Automated Characterization of Communications, Electronic Attack, Radar, and Navigation Systems

One of the most important problems encountered in an electromagnetic environment is that of providing compatibility between radiating and receiving RF equipment within the environment. This problem is a type of electromagnetic interference and the goal of RF system designers and analysts is to achieve electromagnetic compatibility where no interference problems exist between the various RF systems. As an increasing number of RF systems are installed on Navy aircraft, the cosite interference problem becomes more and more challenging. To further complicate matters, modern RF systems are often capable of operating over many channels and thus the operating frequency range of a single system can be very large. Also, a modern RF system may be capable of supporting multiple modulation schemes and modalities. These factors represent a major challenge to analysts who wish to simulate cosite interference problems since RF system models are not readily available. Our team proposes to develop an automated measurement system (AMS) that will aid in the development of both low fidelity (spectrum) and high fidelity (behavioral) models for use with cosite analysis software. The AMS will automatically and non-invasively extract performance parameters and characterize subsystem components of transmitters and receivers while minimizing human interaction.