UGV Electromagnetic Environment Interrogation and Exploitation

Unsecured areas contain multiple threats. These threats include unknown radio frequency (RF) transmissions in the 2 MHz to 6 GHz frequency range. To assist in securing the area, there is a desire to detect, identify, locate, and potentially disrupt these RF transmissions. Due to the physical threats in the environment, a solution that can provide intelligence of the RF transmissions via an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is desired. In this environment there will be multiple signals to process, each with different RF characteristics. The UGV may have line-of-sight access to a transmitter, or the UGV may receive the RF transmission after it has taken multiple different paths. Toyon proposes to develop an RF Direction Finding sensor package with antenna to use with one sensor mounted on a UGV and a second at a controller or base-station. This sensor package will automatically scan the RF spectrum covering the frequency range of 2 MHz to 6 GHz. The system will also be configured to assist an operator in classifying the type of RF transmission it detects. Direction finding (DF) algorithms will be implemented to geolocate the transmitter. Methods for Electronic Attack directed toward the detected transmission will also be implemented.