Glossary

Executive Summary

This glossary provides comprehensive definitions of technical terms, acronyms, and concepts used throughout the Phoenix Rooivalk Counter-Drone Defense System documentation. The glossary serves as a reference for technical evaluators, engineers, and system integrators.

Operations and Concepts

BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight)

Operations where direct visual or RF line of sight between controller and aircraft is not maintained
Typically relies on relays or autonomous control
Critical for extended range operations and swarm coordination

C2 (Command and Control)

Interfaces and services used to task, monitor, and coordinate system components and effectors
Includes STANAG 4586 compliance for standardized UAS control
Supports both manned and unmanned command structures

Counter-UAS / C-UAS

Systems designed to detect, identify, track, and neutralize unauthorized or hostile drones
Includes both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures
Supports multiple threat classifications and response protocols

DEW (Directed Energy Weapon)

Non-kinetic effectors that use focused energy (e.g., lasers) to disrupt or disable targets
Includes laser dazzlers, high-energy lasers, and microwave weapons
Provides precision engagement with minimal collateral damage

Edge Computing

Processing data at or near the sensor/source to reduce latency and reliance on backhaul connectivity
Critical for sub-200ms response times in counter-drone operations
Enables autonomous operation in GPS-denied and EW-contested environments

SAE J3016

Society of Automotive Engineers standard defining levels of driving automation (0-5)
Adapted for Counter-UAS systems: Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation)
Phoenix Rooivalk implements SAE Level 4 (high automation) for autonomous counter-drone operations
Provides industry-standard framework for autonomy level classification

EW (Electronic Warfare)

Military use of the electromagnetic spectrum to sense, protect, and attack
Includes jamming, deception, and electronic attack capabilities
Essential for operations in contested electromagnetic environments

Fiber Control (Tethered/Spool)

Jam-resistant command link over optical fiber, avoiding RF denial environments
Provides secure communication in high-threat environments
Enables extended range operations with reduced vulnerability

ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance)

Sensing and data fusion activities to build situational awareness
Includes multi-sensor data collection and analysis
Supports threat assessment and mission planning

Swarm

Coordinated operation of multiple drones to achieve emergent effects
Includes distributed sensing, coordinated attack, and formation flying
Enables scalable operations with graceful degradation

VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing)

Aircraft capable of vertical take-off, hover, and landing without a runway
Essential for operations in confined spaces and urban environments
Supports rapid deployment and recovery operations

Kill Chain (Detect-Identify-Decide-Act)

Operational sequence guiding engagement actions
Details vary by mission and policy requirements
Includes human-in-the-loop requirements for kinetic actions

Geofencing

Virtual boundaries enforced by navigation logic to restrict or alert on movement into no-go areas
Supports mission planning and safety requirements
Enables automated compliance with operational restrictions

Remote ID / Blue-Force ID

Broadcast identification and status for compliant or friendly drones
Aids in deconfliction and friendly force identification
Supports integration with existing air traffic management systems

Messaging and Observability

gRPC

High-performance, HTTP/2-based RPC framework used for control plane communications
Provides efficient serialization and streaming capabilities
Supports both synchronous and asynchronous communication patterns

Protobuf (Protocol Buffers)

Language-neutral, platform-neutral serialization format
Used for efficient data exchange between system components
Supports schema evolution and backward compatibility

WebSocket

Real-time, bidirectional communication protocol
Used for live telemetry and command streaming
Supports low-latency communication for time-critical operations

MQTT

Lightweight messaging protocol for IoT devices
Used for sensor data collection and device management
Supports quality of service levels and message persistence

Prometheus

Open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit
Used for metrics collection and system monitoring
Supports time-series data and complex queries

Grafana

Open-source analytics and monitoring platform
Used for visualization of system metrics and performance data
Supports real-time dashboards and alerting

Jaeger

Open-source distributed tracing system
Used for request flow analysis and performance optimization
Supports microservices architecture and complex request flows

Communications and Electronic Warfare

MANET (Mobile Ad-Hoc Network)

Self-configuring network of mobile devices
Supports dynamic topology changes and automatic routing
Essential for swarm operations and distributed systems

LPI/LPD (Low Probability of Intercept/Detection)

Communication techniques that minimize detection by adversaries
Includes frequency hopping, spread spectrum, and directional antennas
Critical for operations in contested environments

Frequency Hopping

Rapid switching between different frequencies during transmission
Provides resistance to jamming and interception
Supports secure communication in hostile environments

Adaptive Filtering

Dynamic adjustment of signal processing parameters
Responds to changing environmental conditions and threats
Maintains performance in complex electromagnetic environments

Jamming Resistance

Ability to maintain communication despite intentional interference
Includes multiple frequency bands and adaptive techniques
Essential for operations in electronic warfare environments

Spectrum Analysis

Analysis of electromagnetic spectrum to identify and characterize signals
Supports threat detection and signal intelligence
Enables identification of hostile communication systems

PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing)

Integrated system providing position, navigation, and timing information
Includes GPS, inertial navigation, and other positioning systems
Critical for autonomous operations and precision engagement

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)

Global positioning system including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Provides worldwide positioning and timing services
Supports multi-constellation positioning for improved accuracy

INS (Inertial Navigation System)

Self-contained navigation system using accelerometers and gyroscopes
Provides continuous navigation without external references
Essential for operations in GPS-denied environments

SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)

Technique for mapping unknown environments while tracking location
Supports autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments
Enables operations in complex terrain and urban environments

VIO (Visual-Inertial Odometry)

Navigation technique combining visual and inertial sensors
Provides accurate positioning without GPS
Supports operations in GPS-denied and indoor environments

Terrain-Aided Navigation

Navigation technique using terrain features for positioning
Provides backup navigation when GPS is unavailable
Supports operations in challenging terrain and weather conditions

Dead Reckoning

Navigation technique using previous position and movement data
Provides continuous navigation during GPS outages
Essential for maintaining position accuracy in challenging environments

System Components

NVIDIA Jetson

Edge AI computing platform for autonomous systems
Includes Jetson AGX Orin, Orin NX, and Nano variants
Provides high-performance AI processing at the edge

TensorRT

NVIDIA's inference optimization library
Provides 2-10x speedup over standard inference
Optimizes models for edge deployment and real-time processing

DeepStream

NVIDIA's video analytics framework
Supports multi-sensor data fusion and real-time processing
Enables comprehensive sensor integration and analysis

ROS 2 (Robot Operating System)

Middleware for distributed robotic systems
Supports modular architecture and component integration
Enables scalable system development and deployment

RedHawk Linux

Real-time operating system for mission-critical applications
Provides deterministic performance and low-latency response
Supports hard real-time requirements for weapon control

YOLOv9

Object detection algorithm optimized for real-time performance
Provides 65.2% mAP with 30+ FPS on Jetson platforms
Supports multi-class object detection and tracking

Neutralization and Countermeasures

Soft Kill

Non-destructive countermeasures including jamming and spoofing
Provides reversible neutralization with minimal collateral damage
Includes RF jamming, GPS spoofing, and communication disruption

Hard Kill

Destructive countermeasures including kinetic interceptors
Provides permanent neutralization of threats
Includes missiles, projectiles, and directed energy weapons

RF Jamming

Disruption of radio frequency communications
Prevents drone control and data transmission
Includes broadband and targeted jamming techniques

GPS Spoofing

Transmission of false GPS signals to mislead navigation systems
Causes drones to lose position or follow false trajectories
Provides non-destructive neutralization of GPS-dependent threats

Acoustic Detection

Detection of drones using acoustic signatures
Identifies rotor noise and engine sounds
Supports detection in GPS-denied and RF-silent environments

LiDAR Detection

Detection using light detection and ranging sensors
Provides high-resolution 3D imaging and tracking
Supports detection in various weather and lighting conditions

Radar Detection

Detection using radio frequency radar systems
Provides long-range detection and tracking
Supports detection in various weather conditions

EO/IR Detection

Detection using electro-optical and infrared sensors
Provides visual identification and tracking
Supports day/night operations and weather conditions

Blockchain and Evidence

Solana

High-performance blockchain platform for evidence anchoring
Provides 65,000-100,000 TPS with sub-400ms finality
Supports cost-effective evidence anchoring at $0.00025 per transaction

Evidence Anchoring

Process of storing evidence on blockchain for legal admissibility
Provides tamper-evident storage with cryptographic proof
Supports court-admissible evidence with chain of custody

Hash Chain

Cryptographic linking of evidence records
Provides tamper detection and integrity verification
Supports legal admissibility and audit requirements

Merkle Tree

Data structure for efficient verification of large datasets
Enables verification of individual records without full dataset
Supports scalable evidence verification and audit

Proof of History

Solana's consensus mechanism for timestamping
Provides cryptographically verifiable timestamps
Supports audit trails and legal admissibility

Smart Contracts

Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code
Automates evidence processing and verification
Supports automated compliance and audit requirements

AI and Machine Learning

AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning)

Technologies enabling autonomous decision-making and pattern recognition
Supports threat detection, classification, and response
Enables adaptive behavior and continuous learning

Neural Networks

Computing systems inspired by biological neural networks
Supports complex pattern recognition and decision-making
Enables adaptive behavior and learning from experience

Deep Learning

Machine learning technique using multiple layers of neural networks
Supports complex pattern recognition and feature extraction
Enables advanced AI capabilities for threat detection

Computer Vision

AI technology for analyzing and understanding visual information
Supports object detection, tracking, and classification
Enables autonomous navigation and threat identification

Natural Language Processing

AI technology for understanding and processing human language
Supports voice commands and text analysis
Enables human-machine interaction and communication

Reinforcement Learning

Machine learning technique for learning through interaction
Supports adaptive behavior and decision-making
Enables continuous improvement and optimization

Security and Compliance

ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)

US regulations controlling export of defense-related technology
Requires registration and compliance for defense contractors
Affects system design, documentation, and export controls

DoD (Department of Defense)

US Department of Defense and its regulations and requirements
Includes security clearance requirements and compliance standards
Affects system design, deployment, and operational procedures

FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program)

US government program for cloud security assessment
Required for government cloud deployments
Affects cloud architecture and security requirements

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)

US Department of Defense cybersecurity framework
Required for defense contractors and suppliers
Affects security architecture and compliance requirements

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

US government agency developing cybersecurity standards
Provides frameworks for security and compliance
Affects system design and security requirements

Zero Trust

Security model requiring verification for all access requests
Assumes no implicit trust based on location or network
Affects system architecture and security design

Performance and Metrics

TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second)

Measure of AI processing performance
Jetson AGX Orin provides 275 TOPS
Critical for real-time AI processing requirements

FPS (Frames Per Second)

Measure of video processing performance
YOLOv9 provides 30+ FPS on Jetson Nano, 60+ FPS on Orin platforms
Critical for real-time video analysis and processing

mAP (mean Average Precision)

Measure of object detection accuracy
YOLOv9 provides 65.2% mAP
Critical for threat detection accuracy and reliability

Latency

Time delay between input and output
Target <200ms for counter-drone operations
Critical for real-time response and threat neutralization

Throughput

Rate of data processing or transmission
Solana provides 65,000-100,000 TPS
Critical for high-volume data processing and evidence anchoring

Uptime

Percentage of time system is operational
Target 99.9% uptime for critical operations
Critical for mission success and operational effectiveness

Conclusion

This glossary provides comprehensive definitions of technical terms and concepts used throughout the Phoenix Rooivalk system. The glossary serves as a reference for technical evaluators, engineers, and system integrators, ensuring consistent understanding of system capabilities and requirements.

Key areas covered include:

Operations and Concepts: Core operational terminology and concepts
Messaging and Observability: Communication and monitoring technologies
Communications and EW: Electronic warfare and communication systems
Navigation and PNT: Positioning, navigation, and timing systems
System Components: Hardware and software components
Neutralization and Countermeasures: Threat neutralization technologies
Blockchain and Evidence: Evidence anchoring and legal compliance
AI and Machine Learning: Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies
Security and Compliance: Security frameworks and compliance requirements
Performance and Metrics: Performance measures and system capabilities

The glossary ensures consistent understanding of technical concepts and supports effective communication between technical teams, stakeholders, and system integrators.

Executive Summary​

Operations and Concepts​

Messaging and Observability​

Communications and Electronic Warfare​

Navigation and PNT​

System Components​

Neutralization and Countermeasures​

Blockchain and Evidence​

AI and Machine Learning​

Security and Compliance​

Performance and Metrics​

Conclusion​