Mobile Sensor Network for Tracking Vehicles Under Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tracking systems are vulnerable to interference from sources such as jammers and spoofers, which disrupt the position determination and reporting functions, making it difficult to locate stolen vehicles accurately.
Innovation Solution
A sensor network comprising mobile carrier units equipped with sensor units, position determination units, and processing units detects interference signals, determines their location, and transmits this information to a central processing element, enabling the tracking of the interference source and indirectly locating the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a sensor network uses stationary carrier units to detect interference sources, then the detection coverage is limited to fixed locations, but the system cannot effectively track mobile vehicles or cover large areas dynamically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming stationary carrier units into mobile carrier units that can move through space. Each carrier unit is equipped with sensors, position determination units, and transceivers, allowing them to dynamically detect interference sources, determine their own positions, and communicate with a central processing element. This mobility enables the system to cover larger areas and effectively track mobile vehicles carrying interference sources, resolving the contradiction between fixed detection coverage and ability to track mobile units.
2Loss of energy
If the jamming source transmits with low power, then the interference signal can only be detected over short distances, but the system can still locate the vehicle by combining detections from multiple carrier units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by combining detection data from multiple mobile carrier units to reconstruct the position and movement profile of a vehicle with a low-power jammer. Even though individual carrier units can only detect the interference signal over short distances, the central processing element integrates information from multiple carriers to determine the vehicle's location and track its movement, effectively compensating for the limited detection range of individual units.
Solution Approach 2:
The central processing element acts as an intermediary that receives position and interference detection data from multiple carrier units, processes this information, and reconstructs the movement profile of the target vehicle. This intermediary processing enables the system to overcome the limited detection range of individual carriers by synthesizing data from multiple sources.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple carrier units are deployed to cover larger areas, then the detection capability improves, but the system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing carrier units with multi-functional capabilities. Each carrier unit integrates sensor units for detecting interference signals, position determination units for self-location, and transceiver units for communication. This multi-functionality allows individual carriers to operate autonomously while contributing to the collective system, reducing coordination complexity compared to specialized components that would require more complex integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively tracks and locates vehicles hindered by jammers or spoofers by creating a movement profile, allowing for accurate determination of the vehicle's position and movement, even when stationary, and can be used to monitor larger areas dynamically.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor unit is designed to detect electromagnetic waves within a predefined frequency range
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A system (1) for determining the position of a trackable mobile unit (20) in which a signal jammer is located is described. The system comprises a plurality of carrier units (10A, 10B, 10C), at least one of which is a moving unit. Each carrier unit includes a sensor unit (15A, 15B, 15C), a position determination unit (11A, 11B, 11C), a transmitter/receiver unit (12A, 12B, 12C), and a processing unit (13A, 13B, 13C), the processing unit being functionally coupled to the sensor unit, the position determination unit, and the transmitter/receiver unit. The sensor unit detects an interference signal and transmits it to the processing unit, from which, after optional processing steps, it is passed on to the transmit/receive unit to transmit the information about the detected interference signal and the position of the carrier unit to a central evaluation unit.This allows a movement profile of the source of the disturbance to be created.