N101-061 TITLE: Multi-Algorithm Unique Emitter Identification

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS-435 Submarine Tactical EW System AN/BLQ-10(V) - ACAT III

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative algorithms and multi-algorithm fusion techniques for submarine EW/ISR system to support unique emitter identification. The need is to develop this technology with operator workload reduction being paramount. Any automation techniques must ensure an extremely high degree of confidence in accuracy of reports.

DESCRIPTION: The recent emergence of diverse and complex non-magnetron based solid-state radars into the commercial maritime market presents a future challenge to submarine situational awareness. As manufacturing technology matures and costs decrease, technically advanced radars are expected to be utilized more and more in shipborne maritime navigation systems as well as in land based coastal surveillance applications. Timely and accurate situational awareness of surface activity is crucial to ensuring safe passage, maintaining tactical superiority and asserting control in underwater operations. Passive techniques that detect and uniquely identify technologically advanced radars based solely on the analysis of their emissions are sought. Open multi-algorithm solutions are anticipated based on the expectation that no single technique will perform uniformly best against all present and/or future radar systems. Specific identification algorithms shall be developed as well as methodologies to fuse multiple algorithms for the purposes of enhanced identification performance. The need to reduce the operator workload is paramount, so the need for automation with an extremely high confidence level for correct identification is critical.

PHASE I: Develop identification algorithms for specific identified target emitters and develop an overall open architecture/methodology to fuse the results of multiple algorithms. Provide proof-of-concept via simulation demonstrating that multiple algorithms provide an overall identification performance benefit while guaranteeing an extremely high confidence of accurate reports.

PHASE II: Choose three or more algorithms and a computational architecture for their implementation to yield a demonstration system that works with 1 GHz intermediate frequency signals. Develop interface control software that allows intuitive operation of the system. Develop Automation Techniques that minimize operator interaction while guaranteeing an extremely high confidence level of accurate reports.

PHASE III: If successfully demonstrated in Phase II, develop and install devices of this type on a submarine platform as part of a technology demonstration. If the demonstration is successful and TRL levels are assessed to be greater than 7 then the capability will be transitioned to the AN/BLQ-10 program of record.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Passive tracking of advanced RF devices has application in personnel tracking, cell phone monitoring and identification verification.

REFERENCES:
1. Fundamentals of Statistical Signal Processing, Vol. 1; Prentice-Hall, Steven M. Kay, 1993

2. HTTP://www.SharpEye.biz/sharp/index.php

3. The Beginnings of Solid State Radar, Hyltin, T.M.; IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Volume 36, Issue 3, Part 1, July 2000 Page(s):1016 - 1019

4. R. Wiley, The Analysis of Radar Signals, 2nd ed. London, U.K.: Artech House Press, 1993

KEYWORDS: Identification, Detection, Tracking, Algorithm Fusion

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