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DF System Architectures

The document discusses different direction finding (DF) system architectures including power-based, directional-based, single channel, and multiple channel. Power-based architectures use received signal strength to estimate direction while directional determine angle of arrival. Key tradeoffs are between accuracy, complexity, cost and suitability for mobile vs stationary operations.

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tmallen53
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71 views8 pages

DF System Architectures

The document discusses different direction finding (DF) system architectures including power-based, directional-based, single channel, and multiple channel. Power-based architectures use received signal strength to estimate direction while directional determine angle of arrival. Key tradeoffs are between accuracy, complexity, cost and suitability for mobile vs stationary operations.

Uploaded by

tmallen53
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DF System Architectures

February 23, 2011

12/08/21-- 13:44 1
DF Architectures

• Power based Architectures


– Use a Received Signal Strength indication (RSSI) to produce “line of
bearing” estimates to an emitter
– Single Channel
» Directional Antenna (“spinners”)
– Multiple Channel
» Independent Antenna elements spaced far enough part to measure a power
difference in the received signal

• Directional based Architectures


– Calculate an Angle of Arrive (AOA) of a received signal
– Single Channel
» Switched baseline
» Pseudo-doppler
– Multiple Channel
» Interferometer
» Beamforming

12/08/21-- 13:44 2
Power-based DF Systems:
Received Signal Strength indication (RSSI)

• Homing in – uses received power to get distance


and/or DF estimation
– Direction of greatest RSSI gives bearing

• Directional antenna
– Single directional antenna is rotated 360 degrees
– Can also hand-hold antenna (Yagi)

• Very simple, but inaccurate


– Multipath has more severe effect (fast fading) on
RSSI than other methods

• Worsens the further away you are


– For LOS (Line Of Sight) case, path loss is
proportional to distance squared
– For NLOS (Non-LOS), path loss is proportional to
fourth power of distance

12/08/21-- 13:44 3
Single Channel Directional DF Systems
Switched baseline (phase based)

• Based off original Watson-Watt technique (Adcock array)

• Array of omni-directional antennas (typically dipoles or


monopole)

• The N and S aerial voltages to a differencing network that


vectorially subtracts them (N-S) to produce what will
ultimately become the “Y-axis” voltage.

• The E and W aerial voltages to a differencing network that


vectorially subtracts them (E-W) to produce what will
ultimately become the “X-axis” voltage.

• The third of these antennas is the omni-directional sense


antenna. The sense antenna is required to resolve a 180°
ambiguity that would otherwise result.

12/08/21-- 13:44 4
Single Channel Directional DF Systems
Pseudo-doppler (frequency based)

• Circular array of omni-directional antennas


(typically dipoles)

• Commutator switches through antennas

• Induces Doppler shift on received signal


detectable by processing

• Doppler frequency relative to commutator


phase gives probable direction

12/08/21-- 13:44 5
Multiple Channel Directional DF Systems
Interferometer (Phase based)

• Interferometers measure the phase difference


observed across a pair of dipole antennas
• Arrays are typically circular to ensure all pairs
are equidistance apart.

• Two types of interferometers


• Commutative: pairs of antennas are switched to
outputs in a sequence
• Correlative: outputs of antenna pairs are
correlated (in real-time)

• Phase difference provides AOA estimate


relative to the antenna boresight

12/08/21-- 13:44 6
Multiple Channel Directional DF Systems
Beam-formers

• Beamforming
– Many signal processing techniques can be used (R -1P, MUSIC,
eigenbeams, MMSE, etc.)
– Can be made very accurate
– Signal-processing intensive + expensive

• Antenna array configuration is a design element

12/08/21-- 13:44 7
Summary

Architecture Type Pros Cons


RSSI Single & Easy to implement Must have good model of path loss
Multiple Mobile operations Terrain & multipath can have severe
channel Lowest cost affects

Switched Baseline Single Better Accuracy Antenna array must be designed to


Channel Mobile Operations meet specific frequency range
requirements
Pseudo-Doppler Single Good accuracy Less accurate on wider BW signals (>8
Channel Low Cost kHz)
Ineffective on frequency hopping
Stationary Operation
Interferometer Multiple Better accuracy Antenna array must be designed to
Channel Insensitive to terrain meet specific frequency range
& multipath affects requirements
Mobile Operations
Beam-formers Multiple Best accuracy Larger Antenna array (Best suited
Channel Insensitive to terrain airborne platforms)
& multipath affects Most Expensive (intense Signal-
Mobile Operations processing)

12/08/21-- 13:44 8

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