RF emitters can be tracked through their electromagnetic energy transmissions by passive direction finding systems. These systems have many applications, including aircraft tracking, radio navigation and emergency aid. MIT Lincoln Laboratory had an interest in developing such a system for an airborne platform. In order to analyze potential designs, we simulated three direction finding methods, time difference of arrival (TDOA), phase difference, and amplitude comparison, in MATLAB and compared the accuracy of their direction calculations. The amplitude comparison method was found to be both relatively accurate and practical to implement. For this reason, the amplitude comparison method was implemented in an FPGA based development module as a proof of concept.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Kuhlwein, Samantha O'Connor
• Silva, Erik Chapman
• Massa, Christopher Benjamin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-101711-123941

Advisor

• Iannacchione, Germano S.
• Clancy, Edward A.

Year

• 2011

Center

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory-Lexington, Massachusetts Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Date created

• 2011-10-17

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright