Blind Emitter Geolocation Using Single Moving Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emitter geolocation methods require multiple simultaneous signal collection platforms or prior knowledge of signal modulation, making them ineffective in low-SNR environments and overloaded conditions, and they fail to accurately locate multiple emitters without intermediate geolocation observable measurements.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a single moving signal collection platform to estimate signal energy across a grid of locations using collected IQ data or covariance matrices, allowing for blind geolocation of emitters without intermediate measurements, and can combine additional observables for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional direct geolocation approach is used, then prior knowledge of signal modulation is required, but this limits applicability to known emitters only
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically characterizing unknown emitters through blind signal processing. The emitter signal model is derived directly from received signals without external reference, enabling the system to geolocate emitters whose modulation characteristics are unknown a priori.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter approach by transitioning from known modulation parameters to unknown parameter estimation. Instead of requiring predefined signal models, the system estimates emitter parameters directly from received signals, enabling versatility across known and unknown emitter types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate simultaneous signal collection platforms are used, then geolocation can be achieved without signal modulation knowledge, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic signal processing techniques that adapt to time-varying signal characteristics. By using temporal processing and signal subspace methods, a single platform can achieve capabilities previously requiring multiple platforms, reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary signal processing framework that bridges the gap between single-platform limitations and multi-platform capabilities. Through intermediate representations such as signal subspaces and emitter signal models, the system achieves multi-emitter geolocation with a single platform.
3Measurement precision
If conventional observable-based geolocation techniques are used, then intermediate measurements such as TDOA and FDOA are computed, but this becomes impossible in low-SNR and overloaded environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary signal characterization and emitter signal model derivation before attempting geolocation. By establishing the emitter signal model first from received signals, the system creates a robust foundation for subsequent parameter estimation that works reliably in low-SNR conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical/physical measurement approaches (TDOA, FDOA computations) with signal processing-based estimation. Instead of relying on intermediate physical observables that fail in low-SNR conditions, the system uses emitter signal model-based parameter estimation that remains reliable across diverse environmental conditions.
4Ease of manufacture
If hard decisions are made on small blocks of data, then processing is simpler, but spatial correlation of emitters is not considered and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data blocks and incorporates spatial correlation information into a unified emitter signal model. By combining temporal and spatial processing, the system achieves improved accuracy while maintaining computational tractability through integrated analysis rather than separate hard decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for locating signal wave (SW) emitter/s using at least one moving signal collection platform. The disclosed systems and methods may be employed in one embodiment to estimate the signal energy transmitted from a grid of locations (such as a map) using collected IQ data (or other raw data representation such as IQ data covariance matrix), and without requiring computation of any intermediate geolocation-observable measurements (such as angle-of-arrival, direction-of-arrival, etc.). In a further embodiment, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented in a blind manner (i.e., transmitted emitter signal/s are unknown and processed blindly) to geolocate SW emitters using a single SW signal collection platform (e.g., at relatively large standoff distances in some implementations) without relying on a known signal modulation or operation of multiple simultaneous SW signal collection platforms.