International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Drone-based Visualization of Radio Signals Peter Fuhr1, Elizabeth Piersall2, Gary Hahn3, Jason Richards3 1Distinguished Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA 2Research Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
3Technical Professional, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA
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Abstract - A system for detecting radio frequency (RF)
processing allows for varying the tunable SDRs thereby having the capability to scan radio frequencies. In addition, the microprocessor acquires the signal strength readings from each SDR, then records those values into an NxN matrix. The radio signal level of each matrix element is mapped to a signal level that is used to set the intensity and wavelength of an array of LEDs (or similar light source).
signals using a set of four software defined radio (SDR) detectors with directional antennas and then displaying them in a visual heatmap manner is described. With the directional antennas pointing in differing (but slightly overlapping) directions, a 1 MHz bandwidth frequency band within the 902928 MHz spectrum is chosen for analysis. The outputs from the SDRs are measured and analyzed from which an intensity/color variable structured light pattern is generated. The four light patterns, one for each directional SDR, are arranged in a four-quadrant pattern and overlaid by a visual image of the RF measurement location. The system may be mounted on a drone thereby providing RF signal direction finding from an aerial platform. A description of this design, which is constructed based on a combination of optical and RF techniques and technologies is described. The net result being an Enhanced Reality (ER) view of signals in selected radio frequencies with integration within the Autonomous Intelligence Measurement Sensors and Systems (AIMS) project.
Furthermore, using this array technique, each RF detector system – comprised of the aforementioned directional antenna and connected SDR - subtends a specific angular field-of-view thereby allowing the spatial extent of the RF wavefront’s intensity to be measured. As illustrated in Figure 1, a microprocessor is connected to the output of the detector array allowing a numeric value for each detector measured intensity to be obtained. The detection frequency range is variable through the use of the SDRs (one SDR per directional antenna).
Key Words: software defined radio, drones, sensors, structured light
1.INTRODUCTION Radio frequency (RF) signals may be converted into visible optical representation through the use of a combination of directional antennae, RF detectors, Software Defined Radios (SDRs) and mathematical signal processing. Directionality is achieved in the following manner: each directional antenna arranged in a matrix/array subtends an angle that is identical to its array “neighbors 1” but each is pointing in slightly different directions due to the (machined/printed) antenna mounts. Algorithmic
Fig-1. Directional antenna, software defined radio (SDR) and microprocessor are the principal components of the radio detection portion of the device. Determination of the direction to the RF signal source utilizes centroid detection mathematics associated with optical quadrant detectors [1-3], Figure 2.
1
Identical RF antennas are used – therefore with identical fieldsof-view (radiation pattern). Each antenna is pointing in a slightly different direction than the others.
This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-accessplan).
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