Material tracking using non-dedicated transmitters

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Nucl. Mater. Manage. Annu. Meet. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5697433

Mawhinney, D D

The use of existing high-power radar, television, or radio transmitters as non-dedicated interrogators for medium and long-range tracking or identification systems may be applicable to monitoring nuclear material during transport or storage. The basis of this type system is that some character of the transmitter signal, such as modulation or timing, may be used to selectively actuate a remote transponder to transmit a single or coded pulse burst so that a base station, receiving both the interrogation and response, could locate or identify the transponder. Although such a system severely constrains the designer by removing control of the interrogator frequency, coding, or operating status, the costs and complexities of design, construction, licensing, and operation of a high-power transmitter are also eliminated. Illustratory systems employing commercial radio and television signals are briefly discussed, and a detailed description is provided of a long-range surveillance system using an existing search radar in a non-dedicated mode to track small boats with transponders cooperatively or covertly placed. Design procedures and range projections for this system are presented along with some preliminary results obtained with reduced transmitter power.

• Research Organization: David Sarnoff Research Center, Princeton, NJ 08543-5300
• OSTI ID: 5697433
• Report Number(s): CONF-870713-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Nucl. Mater. Manage. Annu. Meet. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 16
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

055001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
RADAR
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RANGE FINDERS
REMOTE SENSING
SAFEGUARDS
SURVEILLANCE
TELEVISION