Compressed Sensing Technologies and Challenges for Aerospace and Defense RF Source Localization

The paper presents an overview of technologies and challenges regarding the adoption of Compressed Sensing (CS) framework for ideation of novel instrumentation systems, that could be used for the next generation of radio frequency (RF) source localization and tracking. Established systems for accurate localization and fast tracking of non-cooperative RF emitters are costly and difficult to deploy. Nowadays, finding novel solutions of RF sensing system used for detecting, locating and tracking of mobile RF emitters represents a key challenge. Emerging application fields, where the potential of such novel RF sensing system may be used, like: (i) autonomous vehicles, (ii) domestic/military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), (iii) RF environment mapping, and (iv) land/marine rescue operation, are presented. Architecture of RF sensing system adopting CS, such as RF receivers using signal acquisition based on Analog-to-Information Converter (AIC), is presented and discussed. Depending upon target application, key beneficiary of these technologies could be the aerospace/defense industry sectors.