An alternative approach to a Layered Sensing System-of-Systems methodology, denoted as LSWR (Layered Sensing With Radio), is outlined in this paper. This is a novel Broadcast-TV-Driven layered sensing technique that shows potential for finding embedded objects within, for example, buildings via leveraging and combining existing commercial satellite technologies with COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) wireless network technologies and state-of-the-art wireless sensor mote technologies. Specifically, compact sensor mote technologies are employed in a cost-effective manner to interface with and control low-cost satellite radio/broadcast tuners. With this approach, initial concepts of this type are investigated via the analysis of compact custom sensor node technology (i.e. wireless sensor mote interfaced with satellite broadcast tuner) integrated onto a UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) robot arm for purposes developing prototype UGV robot systems with passive integrated RF sensors that support, for example, networked thru-wall embedded object detection. The primary category of commercial satellite signal considered for analysis within this paper is known as DVB (Digital Video Broadcast).

Date Published: 26 April 2010
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 7669, Radar Sensor Technology XIV, 76690J (26 April 2010); doi: 10.1117/12.848969

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7669:
Radar Sensor Technology XIV
Kenneth I. Ranney; Armin W. Doerry, Editor(s)