Raytheon BBN Technologies

Most wireless technologies modulate radio waves in a specific frequency band, or carrier. Broadband RF technologies, though, use a totally different method to encode signals; instead of carrier waves, broadband RF devices send millions of tiny pulses per second. These low power, short duration pulses enable high resolution radar, precision position location, and covert communications that are resistant to multipath fading.

These characteristics make broadband RF sensing networks useful for a variety of challenging sensing applications such as search and rescue missions and perimeter or infrastructure security, particularly in situations where physical barriers to intrusion are not feasible.  Broadband RF sensing networks are self-organizing and can be installed permanently to protect valuable infrastructure such as airports or power plants, or rapidly in an adhoc manner to to provide wide area surveillance. Whether temporary or permanent, broadband RF sensing networks provide cost effective, reliable intrusion detection with precise classification and tracking capabilities.  Raytheon BBN Technologies has been working in the broadband RF sensing field for three years and has applied the technology to a variety of challenging government and commercial sensing problems. 

MicroThunder®

Unattended Ground Surveillance

Raytheon BBN's MicroThunder® system is a light-weight, long endurance broadband RF sensing network that provides persistent reconnaissance and surveillance in cluttered urban and wooded environments, day or night, and in any weather. The system quickly, accurately, and covertly detects and tracks uncooperative personnel moving in these areas.

The MicroThunder system uses small, power-efficient broadband RF nodes working as multistatic impulsive radars. The MicroThunder nodes are integrated using adhoc, multi-hop networking technologies to function as a multistatic radar, providing precision target detection, classification and tracking performance in the most cluttered operational environments.

Highly portable

MicroThunder nodes are small and lightweight, enabling easy transportability and rapid emplacement.

Recent Applications

• Airport Security
  Under sponsorship from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Raytheon BBN Technologies has used MicroThunder technologies to develop a revolutionary airport surveillance system for Bert Mooney Airport in Butte in Montana. The system  will provide enhanced airport and aviation security by monitoring vehicle traffic at passenger drop-off points at the airport and reporting the presence of unattended vehicles to airport security personnel.

• Perimeter Security
  Raytheon BBN Technologies has developed a prototype MicroThunder surveillance system that provides unattended surveillance of areas or perimeters in rural, urban, or MOUT environments. For military users, this system radically increases situational awareness by providing real-time detection, classification and tracking of all ground targets. For commercial users, the system is a low-maintenance and more effective way to safeguard valuable assets such as reservoirs, power plants, and other critical facilities or equipment.