Novel Sensors and Signal Processing for Detecting and Classifying Combatants Operating in Urbanized Terrain

Improving situational awareness is a key prerequisite to increasing combat effectiveness in urban operations. The use of RF sensors in high-risk operations may increase situational awareness significantly. To build robust sensors capable of deliveringaccurate target identification in extreme environments, it is critical to fully characterize key performance parameters. Time Domain Corporation (TDC) proposes an integrated, experimentally verified analysis of their UWB radar for waveform capture, foliageimpact, geographic dispersion, and spectrum management that will ensure the military's ability to accurately determine both the capabilities and limits of UWB sensor technology. TDC's PulsON¿ technology is ideally suited for use as a sensor because of itshigh resolution, excellent propagation characteristics, simple signal processing, exceptional multipath immunity, and the potential to fuse the radar with a UWB communications link. UWB's potential for low false alarms is particularly exciting. A finalreport documenting the evaluation of UWB sensors for urban terrain will contain conclusions and projections regarding further close-range sensor development. The test results will be used to guide development of a reliable, close-range, 360-degree, lowsignature emission UWB sensor system that can perform Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition against adversarial forces operating in urbanized terrain and in foliage. The results of these tests will be used to create a close-range,360-degree, low signature emission sensor system that can be used to perform Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition against adversarial forces operating in urbanized terrain.