UAV Tracking via Interrogation Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft tracking technologies, such as ADS-B, are insecure and prone to spoofing, especially in low-altitude UAV environments where RF congestion and signal collisions are common, making it difficult to authenticate location information.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising ground-based transceivers distributed throughout a geographic area, communicating with airborne transceivers to transmit interrogation signals with address and transmit control information, allowing aircraft to respond securely and minimizing RF congestion through coordinated signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ADS-B technology is used for aircraft tracking, then location information can be broadcast periodically, but the system becomes vulnerable to spoofing and malicious activities
Solution Approach 1:
The ground transceiver sends an interrogation signal to the aircraft transceiver before the aircraft transmits location information. This preliminary action establishes authentication - the aircraft transceiver can only transmit location information after receiving and responding to the ground transceiver's interrogation, preventing spoofing by ensuring the transmitting aircraft is legitimately authorized
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a two-way communication protocol where the ground transceiver sends an interrogation signal and the aircraft transceiver responds with location information. This feedback mechanism ensures that location information is transmitted only in response to authenticated ground-based requests, making the system resistant to unsolicited spoofing attempts
2Reliability
If a large number of UAVs simultaneously broadcast location information, then comprehensive tracking coverage is achieved, but RF congestion and signal collisions occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous simultaneous broadcasting, the system uses periodic interrogation signals from ground transceivers that are distributed throughout the geographic area. Each ground transceiver periodically queries aircraft in its coverage zone, spreading transmissions over time and preventing RF congestion while maintaining comprehensive tracking coverage across the entire area
Solution Approach 2:
The geographic area is divided into multiple coverage zones with distributed ground transceivers. Each ground transceiver handles aircraft within its specific zone, segmenting the overall tracking task. This segmentation prevents all UAVs from transmitting simultaneously to a single receiver, eliminating RF congestion while maintaining complete area coverage through the distributed network
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for implementing secure and remote location identification for UAVs and other aerial vehicles. A system for tracking the location of one or more UAVs flying within a given geographic area includes one or more ground-based transceivers that are distributed throughout the geographic area. Each transceiver is communicatively coupled to a common controller that is configured to coordinate operation of the system. The common controller causes each of the ground-based transceivers to transmit an interrogation signal that is received by one or more aircraft flying within the geographic coverage area of the system. The interrogation signal includes transmit control information that the aircraft must comply with when sending a response signal to the ground-based transceivers. Compliance with the transmit control information is used to authenticate the aircraft.