Dynamic Cognitive Adaptive Filtering: Enhancing Low-Cost RF Emitters with DCAF

Deployed test and evaluation (T&E) threat representative systems currently face substantial challenges in generating high-fidelity, validated threat signals that accurately represent the intended source waveform. Traditionally, T&E environments leverage digital twins or Threat Model and Analysis Program (TMAP) models integrated with low-cost emitters (LCEs) to mimic radio frequency (RF) threat emissions. However, signals emitted from these systems frequently suffer significant distortion caused by intrinsic hardware-induced impairments. These impairments include In-phase and Quadrature (I/Q) imbalance, clock jitter, quantization errors arising from digital-to-analog conversion resolution limitations, nonlinear distortion from power amplifiers (PAs), and local oscillator (LO) leakage and phase noise. Collectively, these factors degrade signal integrity, resulting in system-specific signatures that diverge significantly from the theoretical target waveform. Software-defined radios (SDRs), despite their flexibility, affordability, and broad adoption within electronic warfare and telecommunications domains, intensify these issues due to inherent hardware limitations and artifacts. While SDRs enable rapid configuration changes and dynamic waveform generation via software algorithms, the transmitted signals still undergo multiple transformations across the hardware transmission chain. These transformations inevitably introduce distortions, leading to reduced authenticity and fidelity of the emitted RF signals. To effectively overcome these pervasive challenges, Durandal has developed Digital Cognitive Adaptive Filtering (DCAF), an innovative solution leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. DCAF operates dynamically and adaptively at the network edge, identifying and learning specific hardware-induced impairments in real-time. Through iterative calibration, DCAF continuously compensates for these signal deviations, significantly enhancing the fidelity and authenticity of threat signals emitted from low-cost, SDR-based systems. Complementing this dynamic filtering capability, Durandal employs inverse SDR twins—highly precise digital models specifically designed to predict and proactively counteract hardware-induced waveform distortions prior to transmission.Durandal maintains technological leadership through rigorous intellectual property protection strategies, combining targeted patent applications, comprehensive trade secret protocols, purposeful software obfuscation, and controlled deployment on secured, proprietary infrastructure. This strategic and multi-layered IP protection approach ensures Durandal retains a competitive advantage, facilitating sustainable commercial success. Durandal’s solutions directly address critical T&E community needs, improving the realism and effectiveness of threat simulations, thus significantly enhancing warfighter preparedness and operational capability.