Analysis of Geolocation Approaches Using Satellites

A space based system capable of geolocating radio frequency signals of interest has wide reaching application to the Air Force. This system would provide increased situational awareness to the warfighter on the battlefield. The Air Force Institute of technology is developing a satellite to conduct research on geolocation using CubeSats. A methodology to evaluate space based geolocation systems by varying orbital altitude and transmitter position for a given geolocation algorithm and satellite configuration was developed. This method allows multiple satellite configurations and geolocation algorithms to be compared during the design process of a space based geolocation system. The method provides a tool to facilitate decision making on the configuration design and geolocation methods chosen for a given system design. This research explains the geolocation methods and provides comparisons for one through four satellite configurations for time difference of arrival and angle of arrival geolocation algorithms