5G Signal Analysis on Low-SWAP Platforms

As the 5G wireless ecosystem continues to evolve globally, there is a need for special communications capability to support national security. Special comms capabilities include both active and passive technologies,  including (1) The ability to blindly detect and demodulate 5G signals of interest, and (2) the ability to stimulate and elicit transmissions from 5G handsets. Blind demodulation includes the capability to detect, demodulate, and interpret 5G uplink reference signals without the benefit of receiving downlink information. The 5G stimulator and detection capability causes devices to transmit for testing, allowing detection and geolocation of such devices. Additional capabilities include the ability to obtain signal internals that can further decode to extract voice or data, Geolocate UE position by determining direction of arrival, 2D or 3D position, and RF fingerprinting by identifying successive transmissions from the same device, or identifying the specific device. These capabilities are developed based on signal processing algorithms and have been ported onto software defined radios.