Joint Communications, Antennas & Propagations, and Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (JCAMS)

“Origins of RF-Based Location”

Thursday February 11, 2010 at 11:15 am

Speaker: Dr. Hans Schantz

Meeting Location: ADTRAN Inc. Executive Cafeteria

The Huntsville chapter of the IEEE Joint Communications, Antennas & Propagations, and Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (JCAMS) invite you to attend a technical meeting on February 11, 2010. The program will begin at 11:15 am Dr.Schantz’s presentation beginning at approximately 11:45 am and end about 1:00 pm.

Synopsis:
Communications may have been the first commercial application of wireless technology, but RF-based location was close behind. This talk will provide a brief survey of the origins of RF-based location technology. Misunderstandings of electromagnetics led to several erroneous direction finding concepts. Nevertheless, fundamental techniques like Direction Finding (DF) and amplitude ranging date back over a hundred years to the early days of radio. DF in particular played a critical role in both World Wars, influencing the course of history. The Second World War led to the development of time difference of arrival RF navigation as well as ultra-wideband (UWB) radio systems. The launch of Sputnik in 1957 inspired the inventors behind the first satellite navigation system that ultimately led to the ubiquitous Global Positioning System (GPS). More recent RF-based location technologies include RF fingerprinting and near-field electromagnetic ranging.

The presentations are open to anyone interested in the topic: IEEE membership is not required to attend.

Seating is limited, so please RSVP by email to Eric Grigorian at  as soon as you can, but no later than close of businessFebruary 9, 2010 if you want to attend.

I hope to see you there!