An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless network and method of operating such an antenna apparatus are provided. A wireless network controller provides a configuration of such an antenna apparatus, a method of operating such a wireless network controller, and a resulting wireless network. The antenna apparatus comprises a directional antenna and a uniform circular antenna array. The directional antenna can be rotatably positioned about an axis with respect to a fixed mounting portion of the apparatus in dependence on wireless signals received by the antenna array. The antenna array allows the antenna apparatus to receive wireless signals isotropically and thus to accurately monitor the wireless signal environment in which it finds itself. The antenna apparatus can thus monitor and characterise incoming signals, both from external interference sources and from other network nodes, and the directional antenna can then be positioned in rotation to improve the network throughput.

Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.

Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

A rotatable antenna apparatus has a fixed unit for attachment of the apparatus to an external structure, and a rotatable unit mounted on the fixed unit and comprising an antenna assembly and processing circuitry coupled to the antenna assembly for signal processing. An interface unit, coupled to both the fixed unit and the rotatable unit, routes a cable to provide a wired connection from the fixed unit to the processing circuitry. The interface unit includes a cable housing within which a coiled length of the cable is enclosed. A control mechanism coupled to the interface unit constrains the amount to which the length of cable is wound and unwound within the cable housing to inhibit application of a stretching stress on the cable during rotatable unit rotation. This provides a very efficient, cost effective mechanism for providing a wired connection to the processing circuitry included within the rotatable unit.

Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

According to examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for estimating a source location of a projectile, comprising an optics an optics subsystem, a radar subsystem and a processor. The processor is adapted to use range and velocity measurements obtained from data provided by the radar subsystem, a source direction and an event start time obtained from data provided by the optical subsystem and a predefined kinematic model for the projectile for estimating a range to a source location of the projectile.

According to examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for estimating a source location of a projectile, comprising an optics an optics subsystem, a radar subsystem and a processor. The processor is adapted to use range and velocity measurements obtained from data provided by the radar subsystem, a source direction and an event start time obtained from data provided by the optical subsystem and a predefined kinematic model for the projectile for estimating a range to a source location of the projectile.

A method for direction finding is described wherein incoming signals are scanned and analyzed. The bearing value and its quality of the incoming signals are determined by using a direction finding method. A covariance matrix is generated from the incoming signals by using a multiple-wave detector unit. The dimension of the covariance matrix is reduced in order to obtain a reduced covariance matrix. The eigenvalues of the reduced covariance matrix are determined. Then, it is determined whether more than one signal, a single signal or no signal is detected by using the eigenvalues and the quality determined by using the direction finding method. Further, a direction finder is described.

A system and method for rank estimation of electromagnetic emitters is provided. One exemplary feature of the system and method includes the use of a Fixed Sigma Gaussian Mixture Model (FSGMM) to determine a rank estimation of electromagnetic emitters. Another exemplary feature of the system and method includes the use of a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) clustering approach in conjunction with an Akaike Criterion Information (AIC) to determine a number of clusters and associated statistics of emitters.