Tactical unmanned aerial vehicle localization using ground-based acoustic sensors

Tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (TUAV) are low observable aircraft that are susceptible to acoustic detection by unattended ground sensors because of the high levels of radiated noise generated by the propulsion mechanism (engine and propeller). This paper presents an acoustic signature analysis of a typical TUAV and demonstrates, using real data, the potential of both narrowband and broadband single-sensor based methods for estimating the flight parameters of a TUAV. Also, a broadband cross-correlation technique is applied to the sensor signals of a 3-element circular array to estimate the angular trajectory of a transiting TUAV.