User Equipment (UE) Cognitive Functions

Echo Ridge and partner Argon ST, propose to apply cognitive radio technology (CRT) to MGUE to improved performance including with respect to PNT estimation, TTFF reduction, jamming/spoofing resistance and power consumption efficiency. Our approach follows the process used on prior projects where we applied CRT to other applications, including decomposing the traditional “linear functionality” of a MGUE into functional layers, then applying the well known learning feedback loop to best use cognitive concepts to achieve MGUE goals. We continually test the decomposition and loop application with real world examples to validate the functional model. We propose to show quantitative improve in performance (“through cognitive acting”) in the context of the surrounding environment (“through cognitive sensing”) for two common environmental challenges: interference (including jamming) and multipath. Our team will use novel and unique signal processing algorithms with respect to both sensing and acting, developed on recent ESM, cognitive technology and robust navigation contracts. Our developmental testing approach will use an open architecture/open platform SDR-based receiving function that allows the cognitive process to be fully exploited at every layer. We will produce Phase I outputs including fundamental cognitive navigation definitions, functional models, physical platform definitions, and real world performance examples. BENEFIT: In both the military and commercial market places, there is an ever expanding use of radio-based navigation devices. Though they generally perform satisfactorily, in virtually every application there are instances where degraded accuracy or non-availability create dangerous situations. For military applications, degraded positional accuracy due to jamming can affect the precision of a guided weapon. For commercial applications, the non-availability of GPS service inside a building can delay the arrival of emergency personnel to a 911 caller in distress. Historically much research has been done to improve the performance of GPS user equipment, yielding great gains in positional accuracy and availability. These activities have principally focused on improving the traditional functions in user equipment such as receiver sensitivity, reference oscillator stability, correlator speed, and signal processing algorithm performance. To create opportunities for future large gains in performance, new approaches and algorithms will need to be applied to user equipment including aiding using other RF signals of opportunity, and cognitive radio technology. Therefore, this research activity represents a means to provide large gains in user equipment performance vs. diminishing incremental benefits from traditional GPS user equipment research topics. These gains can benefit the growing markets and applications in both the military and commercial sectors.