TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: NAVFAC Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection ACAT IV

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Radio Frequency (RF) imaging array surveillance system to monitor unauthorized movement of personnel, craft, robot, and vehicle activities around perimeters of airfields, waterfronts, critical infrastructure, and facilities. The system must be able to detect and track movements of non-authorized personnel, craft, robots, and vehicles crossing perimeters and entering secure areas [exclusion zones]. The system must identify and discriminate personnel and robots from clutter, debris, foliage, and animals. The system must operate in all weather conditions, including fog, rain, sleet, hail, snow, and sand. The objective is high probability of detection, with low nuisance and false alarms in exterior environments. The system must identify and present the cause of alarms. The system must be difficult to defeat and bypass. The system may be used stand-alone, or to queue other optical/infrared (IR) sensors for intrusion/threat assessment. It should provide sufficiently accurate position information to direct remotely controlled closed circuit television (CCTV) and forward looking IR (FLIR) cameras for threat assessment.

DESCRIPTION: The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) authorized the use of unlicensed Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Imaging Systems including: Through-Wall Imaging Systems, and Surveillance Systems. UWB imaging systems/surveillance sensors can operate from 1.99-10.6 GHz. These frequencies are sufficiently high, with short enough wavelengths, and wide enough bandwidth, to provide high ranging resolution, sufficient to detect heartbeat and respiration. RF’s longer wavelengths than optical and IR provides the advantage of working in all weather conditions.

The system should combine the advantages of both microwave (all-weather penetration) and IR break-beam (high density) sensors, with low cost afforded by UWB radars. Low-cost UWB radars are commercially available and may be employed in arrays to provide increased range and provide rudimentary imaging capability. Linear arrays of inexpensive UWB sensors, mounted in poles similar to a fence, can be deployed/installed along waterfronts, perimeters, around critical infrastructure, and outside and inside facilities. Arrays can operate as mono-static (reflection) radars, or bi-static (break-beam), or both. Linear arrays can be staggered to provide complex 3D meshes of beams with sufficient density and redundancy to provide volumetric imaging. This allows determining the size and shape of targets to discriminate real, false, and nuisance alarms. Reflections from surrounding terrain and nearby structures can provide improved coverage over irregular surfaces and terrain, minimizing blind spots. UWB pulse focusing from multiple radars, using timing, can provide factor of N increased field strength or N2 power increase in focus zones. This can be used to increase range of mono-static (reflection) radar operation.

Linear arrays need to be rapidly, temporally, or permanently installed. The system must not require precision alignment, rather be self-aligning and self-healing, to compensate for placement, movement, and blockage. Ideally, linear arrays should be stand-alone, generating their own power, not requiring cabling or external power. Linear arrays need to communicate between themselves, for coordination, synchronization, and communicating detection information to remote displays and Command, Control Communications and Intelligence (C3I) systems. Communication between arrays and to outside likewise should be wireless and secure.

Software algorithms need to be developed to process the radar signals, learn environments, determine target signatures, provide alarm indications and displays, and interface to C3I systems. The objective is to use the rich information from a high density of multi-modal UWB sensors to improve detection, reduce false and nuisance alarms, and improve resistance to defeat.

PHASE I: Develop proof-of-concept design for UWB imaging array sensor. Model UWB radar performance against a variety of environments, targets, and scenarios. Incorporate UWB radars for bi-static and mono-static operation and determine range and ability to detect intruders in both modes. Assess or test UWB radars in different weather conditions. Determine effective range and sensor spacing possible within FCC UWB power limits. Compare with conventional microwave and IR break-beam sensors. The objective is a minimum of 100 ft between sensors (bi-static) or to target (mono-static).

PHASE II: Develop a prototype system with linear arrays of UWB radars. Demonstrate and test both mono-static (reflection) and bi-static (break-beam) operation. Demonstrate mesh imaging, target recognition, and false & nuisance alarm identification/rejection. Demonstrate ability to recognize different animals including birds, rodents, cats/dogs/rabbits, reptiles, deer, and humans. Demonstrate ability to measure heartbeat and respiration to recognize animal type. Demonstrate ability to recognize and ignore blown debris and foliage. Demonstrate ability to work over irregular surfaces, and to defeat crawling and ladder attacks. Demonstrate ability to work in different weather conditions, e.g.: fog, rain, up to and including piled snow, and sand. Demonstrate inside and around buildings, single and double fence lines, fenced/walled areas, around metal structures (pipes, valves, pumps, tanks), along shorefronts with sand and salt water, and around aircraft on runways and tarmacs. Cabling between linear arrays is allowed for the prototype system for communication and synchronization. Wireless operation is not required. Identify secure wireless communication and synchronization approaches.

PHASE III: Develop final system with fully wireless operation, without cables or external power. Demonstrate wireless operation. Submit models to FCC for testing and certification. Develop final processing, display and interface software. Develop Application Programming Interfaces (API). Demonstrate interfaces to industry standard security display and monitoring systems. Demonstrate automatic CCTV/FLIR camera queuing. Transition to production for widespread commercial distribution.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: These UWB surveillance sensors fill a gap between available sensors and have widespread potential for industrial and utility protection. They can be used for high-security perimeter applications around airports and prisons. They can also be used for open un-fenced perimeters near shorelines.

REFERENCES: 1) Physical Security Systems Inspectors Guide, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations, OA-10 GTN, Germantown, Maryland, Sept 2000, http://www.ssa.doe.gov/Sp40/guidedocs/
2) Perimeter Security Sensor Technologies Handbook, NISE East, Electronic Security Systems Division, North Charleston, South Carolina, 1997, http://www.nlectc.org/perimetr/handbook.htm
3) First Report & Order, Revision of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Ultra-Wideband Transmission Systems, ET Docket 98-153, Federal Communications Commission, FCC 02-48, Adopted February 14, 2002, Released April 22, 2002

KEYWORDS: ANTI-TERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION; EXTERIOR, PERIMETER, INTRUSION DETECTION SENSORS; IDS;ULTRA-WIDEBAND; UWB; MICROWAVE

TPOC: Steve Gunderson
Phone: (805)982-1262
Fax: (805)982-3981
Email: steve.gunderson@navy.mil
2nd TPOC: Nick Olah
Phone: (805)982-1089
Fax: (805)982-4429
Email: nick.olah@navy.mil

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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