Video Recording of James Ward, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Dear all,

Please find below the link to James Ward talk from last friday:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s494qbhmjfr2tra/zoom_0.mp4?dl=0

The seminar series has now ended -- I hope you enjoyed this class and the great speakers we had throughout the semester, and I thank you all for your participation!

Best,

Salman

Announced on 12 May 2020  2:29  p.m. by Salman Salamatian

[Reminder] James Ward's talk is in 15mins!

James Ward
MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Abstract:

Most small and medium-sized airports do not have the large and expensive primary and secondary surveillance systems that enable air traffic management at the nation’s largest 35 airports. As a result, small airport tower controllers rely on visual surveillance, which constrains the operation of these airports at night and in bad weather. The Laboratory has developed the Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) system to provide tower controllers at small airports low-cost, real-time, all-weather surveillance of aircraft on the surface and in the surrounding airspace. SASS provides passive and active sensing that utilizes current aircraft transponder technology. This talk describes the SASS concept, the design of the sensor antenna arrays, and the enabling adaptive array processing techniques. The system consists of two sparse antenna arrays, sensor processing units, and a master processing unit for data fusion and tracking. For robust detection, a generalized likelihood ratio formulation that leverages known transponder waveform features leads to an adaptive beamformer that provides both cochannel interference suppression and steering vector estimates for detected signals. To enable highly accurate angle-based geolocation, least-squares array calibration techniques were developed to estimate and compensate for the effects of local scattering and hardware imperfections. A prototype of the SASS system has been constructed and tested at Hanscom Field in Bedford MA. Experimental results show that the system can provide highly accurate surface and air surveillance of civilian and commercial aircraft. The SASS system is currently under evaluation by the Federal Aviation Administration for operational usage and transition to industry.

Biography

Dr. James Ward is Associate Head of the Communication Systems Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. He helps direct a portfolio of programs spanning technology development, architecture definition, analysis and prototyping to advance the nation’s communications capabilities. This portfolio spans satellite communications, robust tactical networks, laser communications, and communications-related sensing. Dr. Ward also holds a Lincoln Lecturer position with the MIT EECS Department where he teaches graduate courses in signal processing and radar. Dr. Ward joined Lincoln Laboratory in 1990, initially focusing on adaptive array signal processing for advanced ground-based and airborne surveillance radars. He has led Laboratory efforts in undersea surveillance, maritime radar, and other ISR system technology. His prior technical leadership positions include Assistant Head of the ISR and Tactical Systems Division and Leader of the Advanced Sensor Techniques Group. Dr. Ward is an author of over 25 papers and a widely referenced technical report on space-time adaptive processing. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and a recipient of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Technical Excellence Award. In 2003 he received the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Fred Nathanson Young Radar Engineer Award for contributions to adaptive radar and sonar signal processing. He is a past member of the National Academy Naval Studies Board and has served the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Ward holds a BS degree from University of Dayton, and MS and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://mit.zoom.us/j/91682314987

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Meeting ID: 916 8231 4987

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International Numbers: https://mit.zoom.us/u/akyZC0GbZ

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Announced on 08 May 2020  1:45  p.m. by Salman Salamatian

[CHANGE OF DATE] May 8th, James Ward, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

James Ward talk will unfortunately be moved to Friday 2pm-3pm.

Apologies for the very last minute notice. As usual the talk will be recorded for the students that cannot attend live. The zoom link is provided again for reference (same as the previous one).

Thanks for your understanding,

Salman

Join Zoom Meeting
https://mit.zoom.us/j/91682314987

One tap mobile
+16465588656,,91682314987# US (New York)
+16699006833,,91682314987# US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 916 8231 4987

US : +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 6833

International Numbers: https://mit.zoom.us/u/akyZC0GbZ

Join by SIP
91682314987@zoomcrc.com

Join by Skype for Business
https://mit.zoom.us/skype/91682314987

Announced on 06 May 2020  1:22  p.m. by Salman Salamatian

Recording of Smita Krishnaswamy's talk

Apologies for the additional email.

Please find the recording of Smita's talk below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fyrkh9az7uwmgxe/Smita_May1st.mp4?dl=0
Along with the slides:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g42wxanxmgu4xda/MITtalk.pptx?dl=0

Today's talk is scheduled as usual from 2pm-3pm, and our last speaker will be James Ward from MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Salman

Announced on 06 May 2020  10:56  a.m. by Salman Salamatian

May 6th: James Ward, Lincoln Laboratory

Our last speaker this semester will be James Ward, from Lincoln Laboratory. Details about the talk and Zoom links can be found below:

Antenna Array Processing for Surveillance at Small Airports

James Ward
MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Abstract:

Most small and medium-sized airports do not have the large and expensive primary and secondary surveillance systems that enable air traffic management at the nation’s largest 35 airports. As a result, small airport tower controllers rely on visual surveillance, which constrains the operation of these airports at night and in bad weather. The Laboratory has developed the Small Airport Surveillance Sensor (SASS) system to provide tower controllers at small airports low-cost, real-time, all-weather surveillance of aircraft on the surface and in the surrounding airspace. SASS provides passive and active sensing that utilizes current aircraft transponder technology. This talk describes the SASS concept, the design of the sensor antenna arrays, and the enabling adaptive array processing techniques. The system consists of two sparse antenna arrays, sensor processing units, and a master processing unit for data fusion and tracking. For robust detection, a generalized likelihood ratio formulation that leverages known transponder waveform features leads to an adaptive beamformer that provides both cochannel interference suppression and steering vector estimates for detected signals. To enable highly accurate angle-based geolocation, least-squares array calibration techniques were developed to estimate and compensate for the effects of local scattering and hardware imperfections. A prototype of the SASS system has been constructed and tested at Hanscom Field in Bedford MA. Experimental results show that the system can provide highly accurate surface and air surveillance of civilian and commercial aircraft. The SASS system is currently under evaluation by the Federal Aviation Administration for operational usage and transition to industry.

Biography

Dr. James Ward is Associate Head of the Communication Systems Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. He helps direct a portfolio of programs spanning technology development, architecture definition, analysis and prototyping to advance the nation’s communications capabilities. This portfolio spans satellite communications, robust tactical networks, laser communications, and communications-related sensing. Dr. Ward also holds a Lincoln Lecturer position with the MIT EECS Department where he teaches graduate courses in signal processing and radar. Dr. Ward joined Lincoln Laboratory in 1990, initially focusing on adaptive array signal processing for advanced ground-based and airborne surveillance radars. He has led Laboratory efforts in undersea surveillance, maritime radar, and other ISR system technology. His prior technical leadership positions include Assistant Head of the ISR and Tactical Systems Division and Leader of the Advanced Sensor Techniques Group. Dr. Ward is an author of over 25 papers and a widely referenced technical report on space-time adaptive processing. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and a recipient of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Technical Excellence Award. In 2003 he received the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Fred Nathanson Young Radar Engineer Award for contributions to adaptive radar and sonar signal processing. He is a past member of the National Academy Naval Studies Board and has served the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Ward holds a BS degree from University of Dayton, and MS and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://mit.zoom.us/j/91682314987

One tap mobile
+16465588656,,91682314987# US (New York)
+16699006833,,91682314987# US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 916 8231 4987

US : +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 6833

International Numbers: https://mit.zoom.us/u/akyZC0GbZ

Join by SIP
91682314987@zoomcrc.com

Join by Skype for Business
https://mit.zoom.us/skype/91682314987

Announced on 04 May 2020  9:18  p.m. by Salman Salamatian