Polarization-Invariant Wideband Direction Finding

The proposed Phase II effort is focused on implementing a hardware prototype of the core polarization wideband direction finding technology developed in Phase I. The developed DF algorithm is capable of high resolution DOA and polarization estimation using an antenna array having polarization diverse antenna response. The algorithm can operate on signals of any bandwidth or polarization. The algorithm will be implemented in a hardware prototype and demonstrated in over-the-air tests at the end of Phase II. BENEFIT: The results of the Phase II effort will be a demonstrable wideband DF technology which is polarization invariant. As the DF technology can estimate the arrival directions and polarizations of signals of arbitrary bandwidth or polarization, it can be applied in any DF application that require high resolution estimates in near real-time. The new capability will greatly enhance military COMINT and ESM applications. The technology can also be used for emergency/disaster response, search and rescue, and for location services in the cellular telephone industry. The universal functionality with regard to bandwidth and polarization means that this one solution can be applied to many applications without modification of the core DF algorithm.