IL302187B1 - Systems And Methods For Determining Position And/Or Direction Of An Emitter - Google Patents

Systems And Methods For Determining Position And/Or Direction Of An Emitter

Info

Publication number
IL302187B1
IL302187B1 IL302187A IL30218723A IL302187B1 IL 302187 B1 IL302187 B1 IL 302187B1 IL 302187 A IL302187 A IL 302187A IL 30218723 A IL30218723 A IL 30218723A IL 302187 B1 IL302187 B1 IL 302187B1
Authority
IL
Israel
Prior art keywords
antennas
antenna
array
electromagnetic waves
geometry
Prior art date
Application number
IL302187A
Other languages
Hebrew (he)
Other versions
IL302187A (en
IL302187B2 (en
Inventor
Lipkin Yiftah
Original Assignee
Elta Systems Ltd
Lipkin Yiftah
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elta Systems Ltd, Lipkin Yiftah filed Critical Elta Systems Ltd
Priority to IL302187A priority Critical patent/IL302187B2/en
Publication of IL302187A publication Critical patent/IL302187A/en
Publication of IL302187B1 publication Critical patent/IL302187B1/en
Publication of IL302187B2 publication Critical patent/IL302187B2/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/14—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/46—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
    • G01S3/48—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
    • G01S5/0205—Details
    • G01S5/0221—Receivers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
    • G01S5/0205—Details
    • G01S5/0242—Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
    • G01S5/04—Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Control Of Position Or Direction (AREA)

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING POSITION AND/OR DIRECTION OF AN EMITTER TECHNICAL FIELD The presently disclosed subject matter relates to the field of direction-finding and geo-location, and, in particular, for determining a position and/or a direction of an emitter, such as a radio emitter. BACKGROUND In various applications, it is required to determine position and/or direction of an emitter. The emitter can correspond e.g. to a radio emitter used e.g. as a search-and-rescue beacon. There is now a need to provide new methods and systems for determining position and/or direction of an emitter. GENERAL DESCRIPTION In accordance with certain aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system adapted to be mounted on a platform, the system comprising an array of antennas suitable for intercepting electromagnetic waves, one or more sensors, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide data informative of a position of each of a plurality of the antennas over time, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to a non-rigid portion, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the non-rigid portion, wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. In addition to the above features, the system according to this aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter can optionally comprise one or more of features (i) to (x) below, in any technically possible combination or permutation: i. the one or more sensors are operative in space; ii. at least one sensor is configured to provide data informative of a position of an antenna based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by said antenna; iii. each antenna of the array of antennas is linked to a non-rigid portion; iv. a displacement of a non-rigid portion to which an antenna is linked has an amplitude, during a given period of time, which is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by the antenna during said given period of time; v. a mechanism allows control of a motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas, wherein the system is configured to induce, by the mechanism, a motion of one or more of the antennas over time; vi. the system is operatively coupled to a mechanism controllable to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry; vii. the first geometry corresponds to a stowed geometry and the second geometry corresponds to an expanded geometry, or conversely; viii. the system is configured to send a command to a mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry, wherein an error in a position of at least one antenna in the second geometry, with respect to a position of said at least one antenna specified in the command, is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna; ix. the system is operable to communicate with a processing unit and associated memory configured to determine at least one of a position and direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves based on a difference between at least one of the physical characteristics of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the plurality of antennas, and data informative of the position of each antenna over time; and x. the platform includes at least one of an airborne vehicle, a space-borne vehicle, a ground system, a ground vehicle, and a water-borne vehicle. In accordance with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system adapted to be mounted on a platform, the system comprising an array of antennas suitable for intercepting electromagnetic waves, wherein the system is operatively coupled to a mechanism controllable to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform, one or more sensors, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide data informative of a position over time of each of a plurality of the antennas, wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. In addition to the above features, the system according to this aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter can optionally comprise one or more of features (xi) to (xv) below, in any technically possible combination or permutation: xi. the system is configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform; xii. the system is configured to induce, by the mechanism, a periodic or secular motion of one or more of the antennas, to resolve an ambiguity present in determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of the at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves; xiii. the system is configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array from a current position to a position specified in the command, wherein an error between a position reached by the antenna and the position specified in the command is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna; xiv. the system is configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry; and xv. at least one antenna is linked to a non-rigid portion, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the non-rigid portion. In accordance with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method comprising obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to a non-rigid portion, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the non-rigid portion, obtaining data informative of a position of each of the plurality of the antennas over time, and based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. In addition to the above features, the method according to this aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter can optionally comprise one or more of features (xvi) to (xxv) below, in any technically possible combination or permutation: xvi. the one or more sensors are operative in space; xvii. at least one sensor is configured to provide data informative of a position of an antenna based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by said antenna; xviii. each antenna of the array of antennas is linked to a non-rigid portion; xix. a displacement of a non-rigid portion to which an antenna is linked has an amplitude, during a given period of time, which is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by the antenna during said given period of time; xx. the method comprises inducing, by a mechanism, a motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas over time; xxi. the method comprises displacing the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry; xxii. the first geometry corresponds to a stowed geometry and the second geometry to an expanded geometry, or conversely; xxiii. the method comprises sending a command to a mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry, wherein an error in a position of at least one antenna in the second geometry, with respect to a position of said at least one antenna specified in the command, is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna; xxiv. the method comprises determining at least one of a position and direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves based on a difference between at least one of the physical characteristics of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the plurality of antennas, and data informative of the position of each antenna over time; and xxv. the platform includes at least one of an airborne vehicle, a space-borne vehicle, a ground system, a ground vehicle, and a water-borne vehicle.
In accordance with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method comprising using a mechanism to displace at least one antenna of an array of antennas mounted a platform, relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform, obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves emitted by at least one emitter and intercepted by the array of antennas, obtaining data informative of the position of each of a plurality of the antennas of the array over time, wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. In addition to the above features, the method according to this aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter can optionally comprise one or more of features (xxvi) to (xxx) below, in any technically possible combination or permutation: xxvi. the method comprises sending a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform; xxvii. the method comprises inducing, by the mechanism, a periodic or secular motion of one or more of the antennas, to resolve an ambiguity present in determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of the at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves; xxviii. the method comprises sending a command to the mechanism to move at least one antenna of the array from a current position to a position specified in the command, wherein an error between a position reached by the antenna and the position specified in the command is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna; xxix. the method comprises sending a command to the mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry; and xxx. at least one antenna is linked to a non-rigid portion, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the non-rigid portion. In accordance with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit and associated memory, cause the processing unit and associated memory to perform operations comprising obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to a non-rigid portion, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the non-rigid portion, obtaining data informative of a position of each of the plurality of the antennas over time, and based on the data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. According to some embodiments, the operations can optionally comprise one or more of features (xvi) to (xxv) above, in any technically possible combination or permutation. In accordance with other aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit and associated memory, cause the processing unit and associated memory to perform operations comprising - obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein a mechanism is operative to move at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform, obtaining data informative of a position of each of a plurality of the antennas over time, and based on the data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves. According to some embodiments, the operations can optionally comprise one or more of features (xxvi) to (xxx) above, in any technically possible combination or permutation. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution allows use of a non-rigid array of antennas, in order to determine a position and/or a direction of an emitter. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution allows sparing weight, which is beneficial for various applications, such as space applications. In particular, less massive structures can be used to implement the array of antennas. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution reduces cost, as well as complexity, and facilitates design and manufacturing of the array.
According to some embodiments, the proposed solution relaxes the conventional requirement to implement a rigid array having a fixed and pre-defined geometry. According to some embodiments, for a given mass, or a given cost, the proposed solution provides a non-rigid array which is larger than a rigid array, thereby improving determination of a position and/or a direction of the emitter. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution provides a large (or very large) array of antennas, thereby improving accuracy of the localization and/or of the direction-finding. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution allows determination of the position and/or direction of the emitter, even if the antennas undergo a motion or a vibration of large amplitude. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution benefits from random variations of antenna positions in order to resolve ambiguous locations and/or directions derived from data sensed by the antennas. According to some embodiments, vibrations and/or motion can be intentionally induced in order to resolve ambiguities. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution provides a deployable array of antennas which provides several advantages with respect to existing solutions. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution avoids the use of sophisticated and costly mechanisms for deploying an accurate and repeatable large array of antennas. In particular, the proposed solution allows using a mechanism for deploying an array of antennas at predefined positions that can have a low or even unbounded accuracy for reaching these predefined positions. A mechanism with a high accuracy would require, for the same array size, greater investment of resources (e.g. better materials, higher weight, higher complexity and cost, and greater design efforts), or alternatively, investing similar resources would suffice for an array of smaller dimensions. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution provides a deployable array, which is lighter, less complex, and involves smaller design and manufacturing costs. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution provides a deployable array which, in a deployed position, can have a larger dimension than a rigid array of the same weight or cost.
According to some embodiments, the proposed solution is particularly beneficial for deploying a large array of antennas on a satellite, for which constraints, related in particular to the launch of the satellite, cause difficulties to obtain a large array. In particular, a large array of antennas can be deployed in a simpler and efficient way, which copes with strict requirements, such as, but not limited to, of satellite launching. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution allows constructing an array of antennas in which the distance between the antennas can be controlled over time, thereby providing an in-mission real-time adaption to the frequency to be detected and/or to the required accuracy, while still allowing determination of the position and/or the direction of the emitter. According to some embodiments, the proposed solution provides a large array of antennas on a single platform thereby providing efficient determination of the emitter’s position and/or direction without requiring the use of a constellation of platforms.

Claims (42)

1.CLAIMS 1. A system adapted to be mounted on a platform, the system comprising: - an array of antennas suitable for intercepting electromagnetic waves, - one or more sensors, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide data informative of a position of each of a plurality of the antennas over time, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, thereby allowing for an unpredictable motion of said plurality of antennas, - wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are operative in space.
3. The system of claim 1 or of claim 2, wherein at least one sensor is configured to provide data informative of a position of an antenna based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by said antenna.
4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each antenna of the array of antennas is linked to one or more non-rigid portions.
5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a displacement of one or more non-rigid portions to which at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas is linked has an amplitude, during a given period of time, which is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by the at least one antenna during said given period of time.
6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a mechanism allows control of a motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas, wherein the system is configured to induce, by the mechanism, a motion of one or more of the antennas over time.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mechanism comprises the one or more non-rigid portions.
8. The system of claim 6 or of claim 7, wherein the mechanism enables inducing an unpredictable motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas.
9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, operatively coupled to a mechanism controllable to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first geometry corresponds to a stowed geometry and the second geometry corresponds to an expanded geometry, or conversely.
11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10, configured to send a command to a mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry, wherein an error in a position of at least one antenna in the second geometry, with respect to a position of said at least one antenna specified in the command, is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna.
12. The system of any one of claims 1 to 11, operable to communicate with a processing unit and associated memory configured to determine at least one of a position and direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves based on: - a difference between at least one of the physical characteristics of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the plurality of antennas, and - data informative of the position of each antenna over time.
13. The system of any one of claim 1 to 12, wherein each antenna of the one or more of the plurality of antennas, which is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, is: (i) affixed to one or more non-rigid portions; or (ii) affixed to a structure which is itself affixed to one or more non-rigid portions.
14. The system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the platform includes at least one of an airborne vehicle, a space-borne vehicle, a ground system, a ground vehicle, and a water-borne vehicle.
15. A system adapted to be mounted on a platform, the system comprising: - an array of antennas suitable for intercepting electromagnetic waves, wherein the system is operatively coupled to a mechanism controllable to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform according to an unpredictable motion, - one or more sensors, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide data informative of a position over time of each of a plurality of the antennas, - wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
16. The system of claim 15, configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform.
17. The system of claim 15 or of claim 16, configured to induce, by the mechanism, an unpredictable motion of one or more of the antennas, to resolve an ambiguity present in determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of the at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
18. The system of any one of claims 15 to 17, configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array from a current position to a position specified in the command, wherein an error between a position reached by the antenna and the position specified in the command is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna.
19. The system of any of claims 15 to 18, configured to send a command to the mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry.
20. The system of any of claims 15 to 19, wherein at least one antenna is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the one or more non-rigid portions.
21. A method comprising: - obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, thereby allowing for an unpredictable motion of said plurality of antennas, - obtaining data informative of a position of each of the plurality of the antennas over time, and - based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more sensors are operative in space.
23. The method of claim 21 or of claim 22, wherein at least one sensor is configured to provide data informative of a position of an antenna based on data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by said antenna.
24. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein each antenna of the array of antennas is linked to one or more non-rigid portions.
25. The method of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein a displacement of one or more non-rigid portions to which at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas is linked has an amplitude, during a given period of time, which is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by the at least one antenna during said given period of time.
26. The method of any one of claims 21 to 25, comprising inducing, by a mechanism, a motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas over time.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mechanism comprises the one or more non-rigid portions.
28. The method of claim 26 or of claim 27, wherein the mechanism enables inducing an unpredictable motion of one or more of the plurality of antennas.
29. The method of any one of claims 21 to 28, comprising displacing the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first geometry corresponds to a stowed geometry and the second geometry to an expanded geometry, or conversely.
31. The method of any one of claims 21 to 30, comprising sending a command to a mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry, wherein an error in a position of at least one antenna in the second geometry, with respect to a position of said at least one antenna specified in the command, is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna.
32. The method of any one of claims 21 to 31, comprising determining at least one of a position and direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves based on: - a difference between at least one of the physical characteristics of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the plurality of antennas, and - data informative of the position of each antenna over time.
33. The method of any one of claim 21 to 32, wherein each antenna of the one or more of the plurality of antennas, which is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, is: (i) affixed to one or more non-rigid portions; or (ii) affixed to a structure which is itself affixed to one or more non-rigid portions.
34. The method of any one of claims 21 to 33, wherein the platform includes at least one of an airborne vehicle, a space-borne vehicle, a ground system, a ground vehicle, and a water-borne vehicle.
35. A method comprising: - using a mechanism to displace at least one antenna of an array of antennas mounted a platform, relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform, according to an unpredictable motion, - obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves emitted by at least one emitter and intercepted by the array of antennas, - obtaining data informative of the position of each of a plurality of the antennas of the array over time, - wherein data informative of the electromagnetic waves and data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time are usable for determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
36. The method of claim 35, comprising sending a command to the mechanism to displace at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform.
37. The method of claim 35 or of claim 36, comprising inducing, by the mechanism, an unpredictable motion of one or more of the antennas, to resolve an ambiguity present in determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of the at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
38. The method of any of claims 35 to 37, comprising sending a command to the mechanism to move at least one antenna of the array from a current position to a position specified in the command, wherein an error between a position reached by the antenna and the position specified in the command is equal to or greater than half a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves to be intercepted by said at least one antenna.
39. The method of any of claims 35 to 38, comprising sending a command to the mechanism to displace the array of antennas from a first geometry to a second geometry, different from the first geometry.
40. The method of any one of claims 35 to 39, wherein at least one antenna is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, thereby undergoing displacement upon displacement of the one or more non-rigid portions.
41. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit and associated memory, cause the processing unit and associated memory to perform operations comprising: - obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein each of a plurality of the antennas is linked to one or more non-rigid portions, thereby allowing for an unpredictable motion of said plurality of antennas, - obtaining data informative of a position of each of the plurality of the antennas over time, and - based on the data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
42. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit and associated memory, cause the processing unit and associated memory to perform operations comprising: - obtaining data informative of electromagnetic waves intercepted by an array of antennas mounted on a platform, wherein a mechanism is operative to move at least one antenna of the array relative to another antenna of the array or relative to the platform, according to an unpredictable motion, - obtaining data informative of a position of each of a plurality of the antennas over time, and - based on the data informative of the electromagnetic waves intercepted by the array of antennas and the data informative of the position of the plurality of antennas over time, determining data informative of at least one of a position and a direction of at least one emitter of the electromagnetic waves.
IL302187A 2023-04-17 2023-04-17 Systems And Methods For Determining Position And/Or Direction Of An Emitter IL302187B2 (en)

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Citations (3)

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