FIGURE 2
of using a few large and expensive systems at a considerable standoff will not be suffi- cient to collect and sift through the vast assortment of signals in the environment.
To combat these technical challenges, the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineer- ing Center (CERDEC), a subordinate organization of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and soon to be part of the new Army Futures Command, has
established
the Every Receiver a Sensor (ERASE) program. Tis endeavor comprises at least six related science and technology research efforts managed under one umbrella. Each effort is a distinct building block; when combined, the blocks will create a holis- tic approach to significantly broaden and expand the Army’s tactical sensing capa- bilities.
ERASE is founded on four core principles:
• Broaden the Army’s cyber and electro- magnetic sensor aperture by leveraging all available tactical receivers, regard- less of their primary design function, as potential sensors of opportunity.
• Extend sensor reach by developing novel sensor and system concepts.
• Leverage all available data by exposing, aggregating and correlating data that is currently hidden within system inter- nals or ignored.
• Speed commanders’ decision-making by developing supporting data manage- ment, analytics, visualization and command-and-control tools.
BROADENING THE APERTURE Each U.S. Army brigade combat team has thousands of tactical receivers on the battlefield. Tese resources (includ- ing radios, platform protection systems, radars) have distinct and specific func- tions. When idle, or potentially in
SCATTERING SENSORS
Under the Every Receiver a Sensor program, CERDEC plans to experiment with distributing a very large number of very small, inexpensive and disposable sensors throughout a contested or congested operational zone to acquire specific signals of interest—gathering, for instance, seismic data or radio frequency information. (Graphic by CERDEC)
conjunction with their normal operation, these devices can also serve as sensors. Today, most communications equipment is based on standard, generic hardware, with software providing the specialized functionality. As a result, these systems have the technical flexibility to be used in multiple different ways.
Te ERASE program will build on previ- ous capabilities, such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s RadioMap program, which demonstrated how tactical radios (e.g., the 117G) can be used as radio frequency sensors. While each of these systems will be limited in performance when compared to dedi- cated spectrum-sensing capabilities, their sheer quantity and proximity to poten- tial signals of interest throughout the battlespace should allow for the acquisi- tion of valuable new data. Furthermore,
this approach to broadening the Army cyber and electromagnetic aperture provides new capabilities without adding additional maintenance and sustainment costs for new equipment.
EXTENDING SENSOR REACH When operating in contested environ- ments, within which vehicles, planes and helicopters will be restricted in their maneuver, the Army still must have the capability to acquire the information it requires to understand the battlespace. Extending sensor reach to such denied zones can be accomplished in part by leveraging emerging new platforms such as high-altitude balloons and small, unmanned aerial vehicles. Tese technol- ogies have matured significantly over the past several years and have been demon- strated to be capable of providing data and voice service to hurricane-affected areas.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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