Finding cell phones in rubble and related situations

Systems and methods are provided for locating a transmission signal from a radio transmission emitter device, such as a cell phone, in a rescue area. A pilot signal is employed to lock onto a transmission signal of one or more radio transmission devices located in a rescue area. A signal separation routine extracts desired transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area from other signals coexisting on similar frequency bands and interfering with the desired transmission signals. An estimated location of transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area is determined based on one or more transmission signal location techniques. The area is searched based on the estimated location of the transmission signal. If the emitter transmitting the transmission signal is not found, devices in the system are moved and the location estimation is repeated.