Processing Signals In High Density Electromagnetic Environments

Signal detection and measurement of signals of interest in the presence of high power in-band emissions from own-ship emitters using a multi-pronged system approach is proposed versus using one single technique. Due to the large signal levels of on-board emitters and resulting large dynamic range under which low-level signals must be detected while maintaining spectral coverage, RAS proposes a suite of techniques starting with the Electronic Support system front-end to mitigate RF component saturation through the customized signal detection and processing paths. Adaptive signal suppression is incorporated with RF selectable filtering, attenuation, and/or limiting. Signal processing techniques include time-frequency excision of large signals, pulse interference detection and characterization and ICA. Existing RAS FPGA designs and expertise for real-time parameter measurements, advanced techniques for characterizing intentional modulation on pulse, precision parameter measurement, Fourier transforms, and Wigner-Ville / Hough processing will be leveraged. Automatic resource management and knowledge and use of own-ship radar transmission parameters and timing will be included based on SEWIP Block 2 architectures. Requirements and the system architecture will be developed and algorithms characterized using a MATLABTM model. The hardware feasibility study will establish a baseline for Phase II development in open architecture COTS hardware.