Sensor Maneuver Design for Microwave Source Localization

This paper presents a solution to maneuvering networked airborne sensors with both time and motion constraints to benefit sensing. Decentralized maneuver design is shown to enhance the network tolerance to loss of sensors, in addition to reducing the complexity in computation and communications. Sensing accuracy and speed are achieved by a high-level aggregation of the sensor outputs and a time-coordinated bang-bang control of the sensor carrying vehicles to their best sensing states. The solution is demonstrated through a network of airborne location sensors, where the sensors are paired to acquire time difference of arrival and frequency difference of arrival of microwave signals for localization of their emitters to a required accuracy in minimum time. Network resilience to localizing emitters in the face of vehicle loss is shown via simulations of a six-sensor network with respect to a range of vehicle loss probabilities.