Localization of Radio Sources Using High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)

In Japan, the DEURAS system has been deployed to detect and locate illegal radio sources that either exceed permissible transmission power limits or operate on unauthorized frequencies. This system utilizes receiving antennas installed on high-rise buildings and radio towers to capture radio signals and estimate the location of the transmission source. However, in densely built urban environments, the accuracy of location estimation is often compromised due to signal reflections and diffractions. Additionally, in large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, terrestrial infrastructure may be severely damaged, making it essential to develop a localization system that operates independently of ground-based stations. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a localization system based on a high-altitude-platform station (HAPS), which operates at an altitude of approximately 20 km. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system are evaluated through numerical simulations, considering various environmental conditions. The results demonstrate that HAPS-based localization significantly improves positioning accuracy, offering a robust and high-precision alternative for radio source detection, particularly in scenarios where traditional ground-based systems are unreliable or unavailable.