Multiuser Estimation; A Distributed Error Correction Technique for Sensor Networks

To ensure the freedom of maneuver for forces moving from the see to inland, surface and subsurface threats including small and fast boats, submarines, and mines should be detected and located. The most effective method to carry out this task is to deploy a large grid of distributed sensors that reports the littoral activities to the command and control units. This approach is already pursued in various Navy programs including Advance Deployable System. One of the major obstacles that limits the abilities of the sensors in a large grid is the short operational range caused by limited power on board and the unfavorable environment. In this proposal, Intelligent Automation, Inc. details a novel approach for sensor nodes in a sensor network that significantly reduces the transmit power requirement, in particular those communicating with acoustic signals through littoral waters. We propose to implement an innovative method called “multiuser estimation” for estimating the received signal from multiple sensors with correlated data. Correlations will occur any time a target is detected by multiple sensors, or if the environmental changes affect the neighboring sensors in a similar way. In our method we use the correlation for correcting errors caused by the noisy channel.