Geolocation Evaluation and Modeling System (GEMS)

Phase I of the proposed effort will examine previous Team-developed EW simulations including existing AFRL tools and simulators, existing receiver hardware, advanced detection, tracking and geolocation algorithms, and existing techniques. System improvement recommendations for a flexible, generic RWR hardware architecture and signal processing capability will be researched and proposed. COTS software defined radios systems will be researched and identified for applicability. The system should be able to process 160MHz IF frequency data if a receiver or simulated receiver output is provided as well as process synthetically generated digital data streams. The overarching objective is to establish requirements and identify RWR signal processing platform COTS components for a cost effective, FPGA based system with conventional processors to reduce Government RWR ownership costs. The research addresses signals of interest (SOI) including, but not limited to, communications signals and radar signals from HF to Ku-band (30MHz to 18 GHz), and will include short-duration, low-bandwidth radio transmissions, wide bandwidth signals, and current, as well as, future generation wireless devices. BENEFIT: Current state of the art geolocation development and demonstration techniques require use of large scale, prime contractor hardware and software that are not readily available for examination and modification by third parties or the Government. There is clear need for a flexible geolocation technique development system capable of hosting geolocation algorithms with provisions for stimulus utilizing existing Government receiver measurement data sets, including injection of synthetic receiver data. The Phase I objective is to research innovative methods, technologies, COTS hardware and software algorithms for the precision geolocation and tracking of radio frequency (RF) emitters with subsequent implementation on COTS signal processing hardware during Phase II. The benefit of this and continuing reserach will establish a generic test bed for geolocation algorithm evaluations with potential for a generic commerical receiver product.