INCREASING THE SENSITIVITY OF THE AMPLITUDE DIRECTION FINDING METHOD FROM AN UAV

Abstract

The aim of the work is to study the possibility of increasing the direction-finding sensitivity of the amplitude direction finding method. The method of increasing the direction-finding sensitivity of the amplitude direction finding method is considered using the example of the developed direction-finding device, which can be easily installed on any type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A block diagram of the direction-finding device is presented, its operation is considered, and a study of its performance characteristics is carried out. The proposed method for increasing the direction-finding sensitivity of the amplitude direction finding method can be used for practical purposes in various radio engineering products. The goal of this work is to approach a universal method that can be used as the basis for a device that produces results quickly and while maintaining the necessary measurement accuracy. The authors of the article propose a direction-finding device, the excellent feature of which is its design simplicity and small weight and dimensions, which allows it to be easily installed on a UAV. Currently, small UAVs are being adapted to carry electronic warfare equipment, which involves using them for electronic reconnaissance, radio countermeasures of enemy electronic means by placing jamming transmitters on board, directing artillery fire, using them as kamikaze drones, or as erroneous targets. When creating a UAV, it is easier to use low-visibility technologies, which allows you to approach the target at a short distance and stay in a given area for a long period of time. The proximity of electronic jamming objects, in turn, reduces the energy costs of jamming, and also ensures the interception of low-power signals during electronic reconnaissance. The proposed direction-finding device includes: a direction-finding antenna consisting of two lobes separated by an expanding slit, which are installed perpendicular to the reflecting surface; two-channel superheterodyne receiver; received signal processing device. The basis of the direction-finding device is an in-phase-antiphase distributor, which is connected to the outputs of the antenna lobes and makes it possible to simultaneously form two direction-finding antenna patterns.