Stealth Magnetic Communications

Stealth communications is difficult. RF, including spread spectrum, illuminates, and thus can be used to locate transmitters. Further, RF is blocked by buildings, heavy foliage, water and it can be jammed and/or spoofed. This Static Magnetic Communications (SMC) concept uses vector magnetometer technology to read the change in field strength of a spinning permanent magnet modulated by a mu-metal coil. Modulated static magnetic fields offer the closest thing to non-illuminating signals. Communication is not detectable by traditional methods, is virtually impossible to jam, does not illuminate the area, and does not have antennas. The signals are capable of passing through walls and rocks, and are present indoors, outdoors, underground and underwater; so they are useful in urban areas, heavy jungles, under water and other difficult environments. When configured in a mesh network, the transceivers can cover a large area of operation. Prior research has defined deployment configurations for an area of 112 square km, using 61 mesh-networked transceivers. Building on the theoretical work done in a previous SBIR and STTR, the objective of this proposal is to perform a TRL 3 feasibility study, including laboratory experiments to validate that pulses can be transmitted and received through air, water, and vegetation.