Offset and reduced signature communication
View Patent ↗Various techniques can be utilized to emit a signal away from the entity generating the signal or otherwise reduce the signature in the electromagnetic spectrum of an entity in communication with another entity at a distance. Static and mobile air, land, and sea-based assets can be used with combinations of physical, wired, and wireless interactions.
1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
a navigation system configured to:
calculate a position in space based at least in part on an encryption key, and
cause the aerial vehicle to travel to the position at a specified time, wherein the position facilitates reception of a low observability signal from a remote emitter;
a signal receiver configured to receive a low observability signal from the remote emitter at the position at the specified time, wherein the low observability signal includes a transmission payload; and
a transmitter configured to retransmit at least the transmission payload.
2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the position is a zone defined as a volume in three dimensions.
3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the position is defined at least in part by a mathematical function.
4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the signal receiver is configured to orient on the remote emitter.
5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , comprising:
an authentication module configured to pair with the remote emitter before retransmitting at least the transmission payload.
6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the low observability signal includes a header, and wherein the aerial vehicle is configured to change one or more parameters of the traveling or the retransmitting based on the header.
7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the transmitter retransmits the transmission payload to at least a target destination based on the header.
8 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to transmit details regarding capabilities of the unmanned aerial vehicle to at least the remote emitter.
9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to transmit, to at least the remote emitter, details regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle leaving a position where it can retransmit for the remote emitter.
10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transmission payload is transmitted to a different retransmission vehicle.
11 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the position is dynamic, and wherein retransmission ceases if the position is less than a friendly offset distance from the remote emitter.
12 . A method, comprising:
calculating a position in space based at least in part on an encryption key, and
causing an unmanned aerial vehicle to travel to the position at a specified time, wherein the position facilitates reception of a low observability signal from a remote emitter;
receiving, using a signal receiver of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a low observability signal from the remote emitter at the position at the specified time, wherein the low observability signal includes a transmission payload; and
retransmitting, using a transmitter of the unmanned aerial vehicle, at least the transmission payload.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the position is defined at least in part by a mathematical function.
14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising:
orienting the signal receiver on the remote emitter.
15 . The method of claim 12 , comprising:
pairing with the remote emitter before retransmitting at least the transmission payload.
16 . The method of claim 12 , comprising:
changing one or more parameters of the traveling or the retransmitting based on a header, wherein the low observability signal includes the header.
17 . The method of claim 12 , comprising:
transmitting details regarding capabilities of the unmanned aerial vehicle to at least the remote emitter.
18 . The method of claim 12 , comprising:
transmitting to at least the remote emitter details regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle leaving a position where it can retransmit for the remote emitter.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the position in space and the specified time are based at least in part on a hopset.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the position is one of a plurality of calculated positions each corresponding to a plurality of specified times.