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In this paper we describe the first realization of a combined radar and lidar system based on integrated photonic technology, developed within the project “RODI-RF/OPTICAL Combined coherent Transceiver for RADAR/LIDAR and RF/Optical communications in space” funded by the Italian Space Agency for the technological validation of photonic systems for space applications.

As the ultra-high frequency nature of lightwave corresponds to great potential in wideband signal processing, nextgeneration electronic information systems of surveillance, radar and communications is promised with photonic signal processing systems. However, the sophisticated photonic systems suffer from various hardware defects, which severely limit the performance of signal processing. By introducing the emerging deep learning technology into the photonic system, the hardware defects can be recovered by the trained neural networks. Using different modified neural networks, we have demonstrated high-accuracy photonic analog-to-digital converters, Brillouin instantaneous frequency measurement, and high-fidelity photonic radar receivers. The demonstrated systems with simple configurations can outperform the conventional photonic processing system with complex configurations. Note that the adoption of neural networks may cause additional time delay to the signal flow. Photonic neural network accelerators (PNNs) become a promising solution to realize real-time signal processing. We propose and experimentally demonstrate several system architectures of photonic convolutional neural networks. The photonic dot product unit architecture implements the basic operation in convolution neural networks. And an optical patching scheme is demonstrated to enhances the power efficiency of the input ports in PNNs. Performance evaluations show that the proposed PNN architectures possess potential advantages of energy efficiency and computational power. We believe that, by combining the technical advantages of photonic signal processing and PNN acceleration, intelligent photonic signal processing systems with high-performance real-time wideband signal processing capabilities can be realized. Moreover, the large-scale photonic integration technology promises the fabrication of such hybrid systems in the future.

A method for synthesizing any radar signal via post-processing is proposed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally for both pulsed and linear frequency modulated signals. The method does not require transmitting the investigated signal, nor does it require any hardware reconfiguration (such as fully programmable gate arrays), in contrast with ordinary software defined radars. Instead, the method is based on transmitting the ‘stepped frequency continuous wave' signal with a device such as a network analyzer. By obtaining the frequency response in the desired bandwidth (S-parameters), signal-specific digital filters can be applied in order to obtain the response of any other signal. By transforming the filtered frequency response into the time domain, the ordinary processing of such signals can take place in the digital domain. The advantages of different signals can therefore be used by a single optimized chip, simply by swapping its software.

We present a concept of software modification of three-dimensional (3D) radar systems, designed to work in the low pulse repetition frequency mode, that equips them with the ability to estimate the radial velocity and to properly measure the range of targets that are detected outside the radar’s instrumented range. Despite the fact that the proposed modifications are designed so as to require only minor changes in software, they offer significant growth in the system capabilities. The modified system may potentially work in the medium pulse repetition frequency mode as a so-called four-dimensional (4D) system. The proposed Doppler velocity estimation algorithm is presented in details as well.

Optical phased arrays borrow concepts from radar phased array science and technology to provide non-mechanical beam steering of electromagnetic radiation in the far field. Like radar phased arrays, this is achieved through controlling the relative phases of individual emitters on the device. However, since the device size scales with the wavelength of the electromagnetic signal, moving from radar to optical signals involves a reduction in size by more than 4 orders of magnitude. As a result, optical phased arrays can be created on a compact, chip-scale platform. This is particularly of interest for inter-spacecraft communications where high bandwidth optical signals can be communicated in free-space from one location to another. Providing this functionality with a low SWaP, chip-scale device is crucial for space applications. Recently, many chip-scale optical phased arrays have been developed to provide non-mechanical beam steering of light at optical frequencies, including many demonstrations at the telecommunications wavelength of 1550 nm. Here we will discuss the existing demonstrations as well as highlight the tradeoffs between different designs. We will highlight the importance of spacing the emitters at a technologically challenging pitch that is half the operational wavelength in order to avoid the many negative effects of grating lobes, including power loss, steering range limitation, and the opportunities they provide for eavesdropping.

High-frequency microwave signal generation and processing are highly needed in future multi-functional radar and nextgeneration wireless communication systems. It is extremely difficult or impossible for electronics to fulfil the tasks. As an enabling technology, photonics has been considered a promising solution for the generation and processing of highfrequency microwave signals. In this paper, photonic integrated solutions for microwave signal generation and processing will be discussed. Specifically, a monolithically integrated silicon-photonic frequency-tunable microwave bandpass filter and a frequency-tunable low phase-noise optoelectronic oscillator are discussed. This successful demonstration of the two integrated microwave photonic systems marks a significant step forward for large-scale implementation of integrated microwave photonic systems for future radar and wireless communication applications.

Within advanced driver assistance systems, long-range radar devices with a frequency around 77 GHz are widely used. They have several advantages for automotive use, e.g. the wide bandwidth available improves accuracy and object resolution, combined with small antennas and limited interference with other systems due to atmospheric absorption. Nowadays, these sensors must provide better separation of objects and elevation estimation, translating to a higher angular and velocity resolution, which will be enabled by utilizing cascaded, off-the-shelf, radar front-end devices. In order to guarantee precise beam forming, all modules need to be synchronized. For the distribution of these signals, which are in the range of 20 GHz, optical technologies are of great advantage. They are lightweight, show low loss, are insensitive to electromagnetic interference and have the capability to be integrated. Within the proposed system, the electrical synchronization signal from a central master chip is transferred to the optical domain by a Mach-Zehnder modulator, amplified by an EDFA and distributed with an optical splitter to 4 separate modules. O/E conversion is carried out by a photodiode. Long time stable operation over a wide temperature range is ensured by an external bias voltage regulation of the modulator. First results of the complete system show improved accuracy and object resolution of the targets. The already space-saving design could be made even more compact with special integrated photonic devices. In addition, the realization of a complete optical radar, where the radar signals and echoes are transmitted with optical fibers, would be possible.

The performance of electronic systems for radio-frequency (RF) spectrum analysis is critical for agile radar and communications systems, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) operations in challenging electromagnetic (EM) environments, and EM-environment situational awareness. While considerable progress has been made in size, weight, and power (SWaP) and performance metrics in conventional RF technology platforms, fundamental limits make continued improvements increasingly difficult. Alternatively, we propose employing cascaded transduction processes in a chip-scale nano-optomechanical system (NOMS) to achieve a spectral sensor with exceptional signal-linearity, high dynamic range, narrow spectral resolution and ultra-fast sweep times. By leveraging the optimal capabilities of photons and phonons, the system we pursue in this work has performance metrics scalable well beyond the fundamental limitations inherent to all electronic systems. In our device architecture, information processing is performed on wide-bandwidth RF-modulated optical signals by photon-mediated phononic transduction of the modulation to the acoustical-domain for narrow-band filtering, and then back to the optical-domain by phonon-mediated phase modulation (the reverse process). Here, we rely on photonics to efficiently distribute signals for parallel processing, and on phononics for effective and flexible RF-frequency manipulation. This technology is used to create RF-filters that are insensitive to the optical wavelength, with wide center frequency bandwidth selectivity (1-100GHz), ultra-narrow filter bandwidth (1-100MHz), and high dynamic range (70dB), which we will present. Additionally, using this filter as a building block, we will discuss current results and progress toward demonstrating a multichannel-filter with a bandwidth of < 10MHz per channel, while minimizing cumulative optical/acoustic/optical transduced insertion-loss to ideally < 10dB. These proposed metric represent significant improvements over RF-platforms.

Through-the-Wall (TW) radar sensors are gaining increasing interest for security, surveillance and search and rescue applications. Additionally, the integration of Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) techniques with phased array radar is allowing higher performance at lower cost. In this paper we present a 4-by-4 TW MIMO phased array imaging radar operating at 2.4 GHz with 200 MHz bandwidth. To achieve high imaging resolution in a cost-effective manner, the 4 Tx and 4 Rx elements are used to synthesize a uniform linear array (ULA) of 16 virtual elements. Furthermore, the transmitter is based on a single-channel 4-element time-multiplexed switched array. In transmission, the radar utilizes frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveforms that undergo de-ramping on receive to allow digitization at relatively low sampling rates, which then simplifies the imaging process. This architecture has been designed for the short-range TW scenarios envisaged, and permits sufficient time to switch between antenna elements. The paper first outlines the system characteristics before describing the key signal processing and imaging algorithms which are based on traditional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processing. These techniques are implemented in LabVIEW software. Finally, we report results from an experimental campaign that investigated the imaging capabilities of the system and demonstrated the detection of personnel targets. Moreover, we show that multiple targets within a room with greater than approximately 1 meter separation can be distinguished from one another.

Multiband cognitive radar systems, operating in a variety of frequency bands and combining the different channels into a joint system, can provide significant flexibility and capability to detect and track hostile targets. This paper proposes a multi-passband complex filter (MPCF) architecture and the related circuit design for a multiband cognitive radar system. By operating under the 5.8GHz UNII band, the sensing part detects the current usage of frequency bands from 5.15GHz to 5.825GHz and provides the information of unused channels. The multiband cognitive radar system uses the whole unused channels and eliminates the used channels by using an on-chip MPCF in order to be coexistent with the Wi-Fi standard. The MPCF filters out the unwanted channels and leave the wanted channels. It dynamically changes the bandwidth of frequency from 20MHz to 80MHz using the 0.18μm CMOS technology. The MPCF is composed of the combination of 5th-order Chebyshev low-pass filters and high-pass filters, and the overall inband ripple of the MPCF is 1.2dB. The consuming current is 21.7mA at 1.8V power supply and the 20MHz bandwidth noise is 55.5nV. The total harmonic distortion (THD) is 45dB at 25MHz and the adjacent channel rejection is 24dB. The result of the MPCF guarantees the performance requirements of the multiband cognitive radar system.

Clutter and radio frequency interference (RFI) are prevalent issues in the field of radar and are specifically of interest to of cognitive radar. Here, methods for applying and testing the utility of cognitive radar for clutter and RFI mitigation are explored. Using the adaptable transmit capability, environmental database, and general “awareness” of a cognitive radar system (i.e. spectrum sensing, geographical location, etc.), a matched waveform is synthesized that improves the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR), assuming at least an estimate of the target response and the environmental clutter response are known a prior i. RFI may also be mitigated by sensing the RF spectrum and adapting the transmit center frequency and bandwidth using methods that optimize bandwidth and signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) (i.e. the spectrum sensing, multi-objective (SS-MO) algorithm). The improvement is shown by a decrease in the noise floor. The above methods’ effectiveness are examined via a test-bed developed around a software defined radio (SDR). Testing and the general use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) devices are desirable for their cost effectiveness, general ease of use, as well as technical and community support, but these devices provide design challenges in order to be effective. The universal software radio peripheral (USRP) X310 SDR is a relatively cheap and portable device that has all the system components of a basic cognitive radar. Design challenges of the SDR include phase coherency between channels, bandwidth limitations, dynamic range, and speed of computation and data communication / recording.

Passive Coherent Location (PCL) is a developing radar technique, in which the system processes reflections from opportunistic illumination sources in the environment for detection and tracking. Many developments and improvements of PCL implement pseudo-monostatic and bistatic radar configurations; however, with the proliferation of commercial communication systems, the spectrally dense environment suggests the use of a heterogenous multistatic PCL system. This paper develops error minimization criteria to adjust and optimize available resources to a wideband PCL receiver. The method introduces the concept of self ambiguity as an error metric and implements this as a criterion to test varying PCL scenarios with differing transmitter modulation waveforms. The paper compares this to available techniques and the global minimum error available.

The distribution of analogue RF signals within a high performance radar system is challenging due to the limited space available and the high levels of performance required. This work investigates the gain, linearity and noise performance that can be achieved by an externally modulated direct detection link designed for operation up to 20 GHz using commercially available components. The aim was to assess the suitability of such links for use in future radar systems. Good correlation has been shown between modelled and measured results demonstrating that the performance should satisfy the linearity requirements for many radar applications.

In this work, a second-order phase approximation is introduced to provide an improved analytical model of the signal received in forward scatter radar systems. A typical configuration with a rectangular metallic object illuminated while crossing the baseline, in far- or near-field conditions, is considered. An improved second-order model is compared with a simplified one already proposed by the authors and based on a paraxial approximation. A phase error analysis is carried out to investigate benefits and limitations of the second-order modeling. The results are validated by developing full-wave numerical simulations implementing the relevant scattering problem on a commercial tool.

With the increasingly frequent human activities in space, number of dead satellites and space debris has increased dramatically, bring greater risks to the available spacecraft, however, the current widespread use of measuring equipment between space target has a lot of problems, such as high development costs or the limited conditions of use. To solve this problem, use radar multi-target measure error information to the space, and combining the relationship between target and the radar station point of view, building horizontal distance decoding model. By adopting improved signal quantization digit, timing synchronization and outliers processing method, improve the measurement precision, satisfies the requirement of multi-objective near distance measurements, and the using efficiency is analyzed. By conducting the validation test, test the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.

K-band LFMCW radar may be applied in high-precision range measurement, if its range resolution is made be close to mm magnitude, good performance is not only needed in hardware design, algorithm selection and optimization is but also needed. In K-band LFMCW radar system, CZT algorithm is modified according to practical radar echo signal, its simulation model is built in the System Generator tool software, the corresponding algorithm is implemented in FPGA. K-band LFMCW radar may be applied in range measurement of great volume storage tank, the outfield experiment was done according to application, experiment result shows that range measurement precision may reach mm magnitude, the system can meet the requirement of remote high-precision measurement.

Signal processing is one of the main parts of any radar system. Different signal processing algorithms are used to extract information about different parameters like range, speed, direction etc, of a target in the field of radar communication. This paper presents LFM (Linear Frequency Modulation) pulsed radar signal processing algorithms which are used to improve target detection, range resolution and to estimate the speed of a target. Firstly, these algorithms are simulated in MATLAB to verify the concept and theory. After the conceptual verification in MATLAB, the simulation is converted into implementation on hardware using Xilinx FPGA. Chosen FPGA is Xilinx Virtex-6 (XC6LVX75T). For hardware implementation pipeline optimization is adopted and also other factors are considered for resources optimization in the process of implementation. Focusing algorithms in this work for improving target detection, range resolution and speed estimation are hardware optimized fast convolution processing based pulse compression and pulse Doppler processing.

Localizing a shooter in a complex scenario is a difficult task. Acoustic sensors can be used to detect blast waves. Radar technology permits detection of the projectile. A third method is to detect the muzzle flash using electro-optical devices. Detection of muzzle flash events is possible with focal plane arrays, line and single element detectors. In this paper, we will show that the detection of a muzzle flash works well in the shortwave infrared spectral range. Important for the acceptance of an operational warning system in daily use is a very low false alarm rate. Using data from a detector with a high sampling rate the temporal signature of a potential muzzle flash event can be analyzed and the false alarm rate can be reduced. Another important issue is the realization of an omnidirectional view required on an operational level. It will be shown that a combination of single element detectors and simple optics in an appropriate configuration is a capable solution.

Millimeter-wave and terahertz continuous-wave radar systems have been used to measure physiological signatures for biometric applications and for a variety of non-destructive evaluation applications, such as the detection of defects in materials. Sensing strategies for the simplest homodyne systems, such as a Michelson Interferometer, can be enhanced by using Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) techniques. This allows multiple objects or surfaces to be range resolved while monitoring the phase of the signal in a particular range bin. We will discuss the latest developments in several studies aimed at demonstrating how FMCW techniques can enhance mmW/THz sensing applications.

Recently, dual-function radar-communications (DFRC) has been proposed as means to mitigate the spectrum congestion problem. Existing amplitude-shift keying (ASK) methods for information embedding do not take full advantage of the highest permissable sidelobe level. In this paper, a new ASK-based signaling strategy for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the communication receiver is proposed. The proposed method employs one reference waveform and simultaneously transmits a number of orthogonal waveforms equals to the number of 1's in the binary sequence being embedded. 3 dB SNR gain is achieved using the proposed method as compared to existing sidelobe ASK methods. The effectiveness of the proposed information embedding strategy is verified using simulations examples.

The Spectral Analysis Solution (SAS), under development, is a multichannel superheterodyne signal analyzer with the intended applications of radio frequency (RF) research, radar verification, and general purpose spectrum sensing, primarily in the ultra-wideband (UWB) range from ultra high frequency (UHF) to the S-band. The SAS features a wideband channel operating from 100 kHz to 1.8 GHz and eight narrowband channels having adjustable instantaneous bandwidths ranging from 1 MHz to 100 MHz. The wideband channel provides a large picture of the RF spectrum while the narrowband channels allow for high resolution, low noise floor, and high spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) capabilities. An adaptive graphic user interface (GUI) has been implemented for the system that actively pulls and processes the system data in real time. This paper outlines the motivation and theory behind the system along with system validation and implementation results.

Part of the research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 312745. We present a 220 GHz 3D imaging ‘Pathfinder’ radar developed within the EU FP7 project CONSORTIS (Concealed Object Stand-Off Real-Time Imaging for Security) which has been built to address two objectives: (i) to de-risk the radar hardware development and (ii) to enable the collection of phenomenology data with ~1 cm3 volumetric resolution. The radar combines a DDS-based chirp generator and self-mixing multiplier technology to achieve a 30 GHz bandwidth chirp with such high linearity that the raw point response is close to ideal and only requires minor nonlinearity compensation. The single transceiver is focused with a 30 cm lens mounted on a gimbal to acquire 3D volumetric images of static test targets & materials. Publisher PDF

This work focuses on implementing a class of exactly solvable chaotic oscillators at speeds that allow real world radar applications. The implementation of a chaotic radar using a solvable system has many advantages due to the generation of aperiodic, random-like waveforms with an analytic representation. These advantages include high range resolution, no range ambiguity, and spread spectrum characteristics. These systems allow for optimal detection of a noise-like signal by the means of a linear matched filter using simple and inexpensive methods. This paper outlines the use of exactly solvable chaos in ranging systems, while addressing electronic design issues related to the frequency dependence of the system's stretching function introduced by the use of negative impedance converters (NICs).

A novel photonic beam-former concept is discussed within the context of traditional Radar design considerations. The beam-former concept has been proven for passive imaging applications1; however, the work presented herein discusses extension of the theory to an active sensing problem space. The paper concentrates on discussion of photonic beamspace beam-forming and its relation to existing Beam-Space array theory and closes with several observations of the application of the photonic beam-space receiver to a simulated radar scenario. The initial results presented highlight the photonic beam-former’s ability to generate a full beam space for an arbitrary array size in real-time.

Phased-array antenna (PAA) technology plays a significant role in modern day radar and communication networks. Truetime- delay (TTD) enabled beam steering networks provide several advantages over their electronic counterparts, including squint-free beam steering, low RF loss, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and large bandwidth control of PAAs. Chip-scale and integrated TTD modules promise a miniaturized, light-weight system; however, the modules are still rigid and they require complex packaging solutions. Moreover, the total achievable time delay is still restricted by the wafer size. In this work, we propose a light-weight and large-area, true-time-delay beamforming network that can be fabricated on light-weight and flexible/rigid surfaces utilizing low-cost “printing” techniques. In order to prove the feasibility of the approach, a 2-bit thermo-optic polymer TTD network is developed using a combination of imprinting and ink-jet printing. RF beam steering of a 1×4 X-band PAA up to 60° is demonstrated. The development of such active components on large area, light-weight, and low-cost substrates promises significant improvement in size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements over the state-of-the-art.

Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology for wireless multiple access communications are receiving great interest for the last five years due to its unique features such as spectrum coexistence with other wireless services, RF front-end simplicity (enabling potential low cost terminals), good radio wave propagation (robust against multi-path fading, material penetration) and high bitrate. Low-cost UWB technology can be employed to provide simultaneous communications and vehicular radar capabilities. In this paper, the application of vehicle-to-vehicle (C2C), infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2C), communication and vehicular radar (VRAD) based on UWB technology are proposed altogether the required fiber-optics infrastructure, with the advantage of being flexible, cost-effective, reliable, fast and secure. The experimental validation and comparison for the optical generation of UWB signals combined with radio-over-fiber transmission is also reported in this work applied to vehicular communications. Both impulse-radio (IR-UWB) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM-UWB) signals are generated and their performance are evaluated experimentally in the 3.1-10.6 GHz frequency range. Up-conversion in the 60 GHz wireless band is also herein reported.

This paper presents experimental work on the detection of spurious RF emissions of mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (mini-UAV). Many recent events have shown that mini-UAVs can be considered as a potential threat for civil security. For this reason the detection of mini-UAVs has become of interest to the sensor community. The detection, classification and identification chain can take advantage of different sensor technologies. Apart from the signatures used by radar and electro-optical sensor systems, the UAV also emits RF signals. These RF signatures can be split in intentional signals for communication with the operator and un-intentional RF signals emitted by the UAV. These unintentional or spurious RF emissions are very weak but could be used to discriminate potential UAV detections from false alarms. The goal of this research was to assess the potential of exploiting spurious emissions in the classification and identification chain of mini-UAVs. It was already known that spurious signals are very weak, but the focus was on the question whether the emission pattern could be correlated to the behaviour of the UAV. In this paper experimental examples of spurious RF emission for different types of mini-UAVs and their correlation with the electronic circuits in the UAVs will be shown. © 2016 SPIE. The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

The micro-motion of ballistic missile targets induces micro-Doppler modulation on the radar return signal, which is a unique feature for the warhead discrimination during flight. In order to extract the micro-Doppler feature of ballistic missile targets, time-frequency analysis is employed to process the micro-Doppler modulated time-varying radar signal. The images of time-frequency distribution (TFD) reveal the micro-Doppler modulation characteristic very well. However, there are many existing time-frequency analysis methods to generate the time-frequency distribution images, including the short-time Fourier transform (STFT), Wigner distribution (WD) and Cohen class distribution, etc. Under the background of ballistic missile defence, the paper aims at working out an effective time-frequency analysis method for ballistic missile warhead discrimination from the decoys.

Amplitude-phase errors and mutual coupling errors among multi-channels in digital array radar (DAR) will seriously deteriorate the performance of signal processing such as digital beam-forming (DBF) and high resolution direction finding. In this paper, a combined algorithm for error calibration in DAR has been demonstrated. The algorithm firstly estimates the amplitude-phase errors of each channel using interior calibration sources with the help of the calibration network. Then the signals from far field are received and the amplitude-phase errors are compensated. According to the subspace theories, the relationship between the principle eigenvectors and distorted steering vectors is expressed, and the cost function containing the mutual coupling matrix (MCM) and incident directions is established. Making use of the properties of MCM of uniform linear array, Gauss-Newton method is implied to iteratively compute the MCM and the direction of arrival (DOA). Simulation results have shown the effectiveness and performance of proposed algorithm. Based on an 8-elements DAR test-bed, experiments are carried out in anechoic chamber. The results illustrate that the algorithm is feasible in actual systems.

Guidance of weapon systems relies on sensors to analyze targets signature. Defense weapon systems also need to detect then identify threats also using sensors. One important class of sensors are millimeter waves radar systems that are very efficient for seeing through atmosphere and/or foliage for example. This type of high frequency radar can produce high quality images with very tricky features such as dihedral and trihedral bright points, shadows and lay over effect. Besides, image quality is very dependent on the carrier velocity and trajectory. Such sensors systems are so complex that they need simulation to be tested. This paper presents a state of the Art of millimeter waves sensor models. A short presentation of asymptotic methods shows that physical optics support is mandatory to reach realistic results. SE-Workbench-RF tool is presented and typical examples of results are shown both in the frame of Synthetic Aperture Radar sensors and Real Beam Ground Mapping radars. Several technical topics are then discussed, such as the rendering technique (ray tracing vs. rasterization), the implementation (CPU vs. GP GPU) and the tradeoff between physical accuracy and performance of computation. Examples of results using SE-Workbench-RF are showed and commented.

This study which was conducted as a Master's thesis, is a radar system working at X band. In this system, a 0.8 Watts continuous electromagnetic wave which is modulated with a frequency ramp of 30 MHz bandwidth is generated and radiated through transmit antenna. The scattered signal from the hydrometeors is multiplied with the transmitted one and the beat signal is obtained. By this deramping process the range information of the target is converted into frequency domain. Data is processed in Matlab after passing through analog to digital converters. The range and velocity information is obtained with signal processing algorithms in fast and slow time. Some special techniques such as clipping, windowing, coherent data integration, and slow time signal processing are performed to the captured beat signal. Verification of the system is performed by buildings and cars whose range and velocities are known. The range of cloud and the speed of wind are estimated by processing the return signal in fast and slow time.

This paper presents possibilities of using the composite fence in the security systems. The fence made entirely of dielectric materials is neutral for electromagnetic waves. Thus, the fence does not introduce disturbances in propagation of electromagnetic waves. The use of composite fences reduces reflections of electromagnetic waves which cause negative effects on fence sensors, microwave barriers and radars. Additionally, the sensing part of the fence sensors can be integrated in the composite fence structure. Thus, the detecting elements mounted on the fence are invisible for potential intruder. This paper presents the composite fence with integrated fiber for fiber optic sensors. By arranging the fiber into fence grid it is possible not only discreet installation of the sensors, but also better transfer movements of the fence to sensitive optical fiber. By using the fiber as a sensing element the whole fence remain dielectric. Thereby obtaining a fence entirely transparent to electromagnetic waves which is also monitored for forcing attempts. Another way to use the dielectric properties of the composite fence is possibility of use electromagnetic sensors. Installation of the electromagnetic sensor directly on the fence allows to create a monitored zone in the close surroundings on both sides of the fence. The use of two types of sensors based on different physical phenomena provides an improvement in the detection properties of the entire security system by reducing the number of false alarms and increasing level of safety by increasing the probability of detection an attempt to force the fence.

Microwave photonic links (MPLs) can provide many advantages over traditional coaxial and waveguide solutions due to its low loss, small size, lightweight, large bandwidth, superior stability and immunity to external interference. It has been considered in various applications such as: the transmission of radio frequency (RF) signal over optical carriers, video television transmission, radar and communication systems. Stability of phase of the microwave photonic links is a critical issue in several realistic applications. The delay line technique for phase noise measurement of phase modulation microwave photonic links is measured for the first time. Using this approach, the input signal noise and power supply noise can be effectively cancelled, and it does not require phase locking. The phase noise of a microwave photonic links with a 10 GHz sinusoidal signal is experimentally demonstrated.

CMOS technology offers relatively low performance at mm-wave frequencies compared with other III-V technologies and the high levels of process variation further exacerbate design margins. This paper discusses several CMOS system-on-chips (SoCs) developed by JPL through collaboration with UCLA that use a self-healing approach to optimize mm-wave transceiver performance, as well as calibrate operation at runtime. Several applications will be discussed for mm-wave spectroscopy, radar, and communication systems, with SoCs demonstrated at V, W and D band.

We present an analysis of receiver performance when diverse waveforms such as the advanced pulse compression noise (APCN) are used. Two perspectives within the shared channel are considered: (1) a radar transceiving APCN in the presence of other radar interference sources, and (2) a communications system transceiving M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) in the presence of a radar interference sources practicing waveform diversity. Through simulation, we show how waveform diversity and the ability to tune the APCN spectrum characteristics minimizes interference for co-channel users.

The trend in high-performance ground-surveillance radar systems is towards employing multiple receiver channels of data. Often, key to performance is the ability to achieve and maintain balance between the radar channels. This can be quite problematic for high-performance radar modes. It is shown that commutation of radar receiver channels can be employed to facilitate channel balancing. Commutation is the switching, trading, toggling, or multiplexing of the channels between signal paths. Commutation allows modulating the imbalance energy away from the balanced energy in Doppler, where it can be mitigated with filtering.

The design considerations for low cost, shock resistant, compact and efficient laser radars and ranging systems are discussed. The reviewed approach with single optical aperture allows reducing the size, weight and power of the system. Additional design benefits include improved stability, reliability and rigidity of the overall system. The proposed modular architecture provides simplified way of varying the performance parameters of the range finder product family by selecting the sets of specific illumination and detection modules. The performance operation challenges are presented. The implementation of non-reciprocal optical elements is considered. The cross talk between illumination and detection channels for single aperture design is reviewed. 3D imaging capability for the ranging applications is considered. The simplified assembly and testing process for single aperture range finders that allows to mass produce the design are discussed. The eye safety of the range finder operation is summarized.

The conditions for orthogonality in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radar enable a virtual array gain beneficial to beamforming on receive. However, this condition imposes a constraint on transmit beamforming for various reasons. As a result, a performance loss can be expected when compared to a traditional monostatic phased array. With this in mind, we analyze the complex scattering coefficients for a scenario in which MIMO radar beamforming is used to illuminate an arbitrary target obfuscated by different line-of-sight obstructions such as foliage and/or buildings. Using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling, our simulations will grow the understanding of how plausible MIMO radar is for detecting targets in challenging environments.

This paper presents a non-destructive readout circuit of the linear array image sensor with wide dynamic range and high speed readout for radar system. A multi-capacitor and self-regulated capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) structure is employed to extend the dynamic range. The gain of the CTIA is auto adjusted by switching different capacitors to the integration node asynchronously according to the output voltage. A class AB OPA is utilized to drive all the additional capacitors to achieve high speed readout. A photo response curve presents as a polyline with 5 segments, which enables a 101.7 dB dynamic range. In addition, the exposure time is 5.12us in the simulation, then an over 190k fps is achieved.

Second-order digital phase-locked-loop (DPLL) is widely used in traditional Continuous wave (CW) velocity radar with poor performance in high dynamic conditions. Using the third-order DPLL can improve the performance. Firstly, the echo signal model of CW radar is given. Secondly, theoretical derivations of the tracking performance in different velocity conditions are given. Finally, simulation model of CW radar is established based on Simulink tool. Tracking performance of the two kinds of DPLL in different acceleration and jerk conditions is studied by this model. The results show that third-order PLL has better performance in high dynamic conditions. This model provides a platform for further research of CW radar.

In this paper we present a type of antipodal Vivaldi antenna design, which can be used for pulse radiation in UWB communication. The Vivaldi antenna is a special tapered slot antenna with planar structure which is easily to be integrated with transmitting elements and receiving elements to form a compact structure. When the permittivity is very large, the wavelength of slot mode is so short that the electromagnetic fields concentrate in the slot to form an effective and balanced transmission line. Due to its simple structure and small size the Vivaldi antennas are one of the most popular designs used in UWB applications. However, for a two-antenna radar system, there is a high mutual coupling between two such antennas due to open configuration. In this paper, we propose a new method for reducing this effect. The method was validated by simulating a system of two Vivaldi antennas in front of a standard target.

Range accuracy and efficiency are two important indicators for Frequency modulated continuous wave (FM/CW) laser radar, improving the accuracy and efficiency of extracting beat frequency are key factors for them. Multiple Modulation Zoom Spectrum Analysis (ZFFT) and the Chirp-Z Transform (CZT) are two widely used methods for improving frequency estimation. The paper through analyze advantages and disadvantages of these methods, proposes a high accuracy and fast signal processing method which is ZFFT-CZT, it combines advantages that ZFFT can reduce data size, and CZT can zoom in frequency of any interested band. The processing of ZFFT-CZT is following: firstly ZFFT is conducted by conducting Fourier transform on short time signal to calculate amount of frequency shift, and transforming high-frequency signal into low-frequency signal of long time sampling, then CZT is conducted by choosing any interested band to continue subdividing the spectral peaks, which can reduce picket fence effect. By simulate experiment based on ZFFT-CZT method, two closed targets at distance of 50m and 50.001m are measured, and the measurement errors are 40μm and 34μm respectively. It proved that ZFFT-CZT has a small amount of calculation, which can meet the requirement of high precision frequency extraction.

Digital orthogonal receiver is one of the key techniques in digital receiver of soft radar, and compressed sensing is attracting more and more attention in radar signal processing. In this paper, we propose a CS digital orthogonal receiver for wideband radar which utilizes compressed sampling in the acquisition of radar raw data. In order to reconstruct complex signal from sub-sampled raw data, a novel sparse dictionary is proposed to represent the real-valued radar raw signal sparsely. Using our dictionary and CS algorithm, we can reconstruct the complex-valued radar signal from sub-sampled echoes. Compared with conventional digital orthogonal radar receiver, the architecture of receiver in this paper is more simplified and the sampling frequency of ADC is reduced sharply. At the same time, the range profile can be obtained during the reconstruction, so the matched filtering can be eliminated in the receiver. Some experiments on ISAR imaging based on simulated data prove that the phase information of radar echoes is well reserved in our orthogonal receiver and the whole design is effective for wideband radar.

A subscale radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) testbed using novel RF-photonics techniques for generating radar waveforms is currently under development at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) to study target scenarios in a laboratory setting. The linearity of Maxwell’s equations allows the use of millimeter wavelengths and scaled-down target models to emulate full-scale RF scene effects. Coupled with passive IR and visible sensors, target motions and heating, and a processing and algorithm development environment, this testbed provides a means to flexibly and cost-effectively generate and analyze multi-modal data for a variety of applications, including verification of digital model hypotheses, investigation of correlated phenomenology, and aiding system capabilities assessment. In this work, concept feasibility is demonstrated for simultaneous RF, IR, and visible sensor measurements of heated, precessing, conical targets and of a calibration cylinder. Initial proof-of-principle results are shown of the Ka-band subscale radar, which models S-band for 1/10th scale targets, using stretch processing and Xpatch models.

Ka-band RADAR frequency range has not yet been used for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from space so far, although this technology may lead to important applications for the next generation of SAR space sensors. Therefore, feasibility studies regarding a Ka-band SAR instrument have been started [1][2], for the next generation of SAR space sensors. In spite of this, the lack of trusted references on backscatter at Ka-band revealed to be the main limitation for the investigation of the potentialities of this technology. In the framework of the ESA project “Ka-band SAR backscatter analysis in support of future applications”, this paper is aimed at the study of wave interaction at Ka-band for a wide range of targets in order to define a set of well calibrated and reliable Ka-band backscatter coefficients for different kinds of targets. We propose several examples of backscatter data resulting from a critical survey of available datasets at Ka-band, focusing on the most interesting cases and addressing both correspondences and differences. The reliability of the results will be assessed via a preliminary comparison with ElectroMagnetic (EM) theoretical models. Furthermore, in support of future technological applications, we have designed a prototypal software acting as a “library” of earth surface radar response. In our intention, the output of the study shall contribute to answer to the need of a trustworthy Ka-Band backscatter reference. It will be of great value for future technological applications, such as support to instrument analysis, design and requirements’ definition (e.g.: Signal to Noise Ratio, Noise Equivalent Sigma Zero).

All digital radar architecture requires exclude mechanical scan system. The phase antenna array is necessarily large because the array elements must be co-located with very precise dimensions and will need high accuracy phase processing system for aggregate and distribute T/R modules data to/from antenna elements. Even phase array cannot provide wide field of view. New nature inspired all digital radar architecture proposed. The fly’s eye consists of multiple angularly spaced sensors giving the fly simultaneously thee wide-area visual coverage it needs to detect and avoid the threats around him. Fly eye radar antenna array consist multiple directional antennas loose distributed along perimeter of ground vehicle or aircraft and coupled with receiving/transmitting front end modules connected by digital interface to central processor. Non-steering antenna array allows creating all-digital radar with extreme flexible architecture. Fly eye radar architecture provides wide possibility of digital modulation and different waveform generation. Simultaneous correlation and integration of thousands signals per second from each point of surveillance area allows not only detecting of low level signals ((low profile targets), but help to recognize and classify signals (targets) by using diversity signals, polarization modulation and intelligent processing. Proposed all digital radar architecture with distributed directional antenna array can provide a 3D space vector to the jammer by verification direction of arrival for signals sources and as result jam/spoof protection not only for radar systems, but for communication systems and any navigation constellation system, for both encrypted or unencrypted signals, for not limited number or close positioned jammers.

Revolutionary new fly eye radar sensor technologies based on an array of directional antennas is eliminating the need for a mechanical scanning antenna or complicated phase processor. Proposed sense and avoid radar based on fly eye radar technology can be very small, provides continuous surveillance of entire sky (360 degree by azimuth and elevation) and can be applied for separate or swarm of micro/nano UAS or UGS. Monopulse technology increases bearing accuracy several folds and radar can be multi-functional, multi-frequency. Fly eye micro-radars are inexpensive, can be expendable. Prototype of sense and avoid radar with two directional antennas has been designed and bench tested.

This paper investigates the application of the CLEAN non–linear deconvolution method to Late Time Response (LTR) analysis for detecting multiple objects in Concealed Threat Detection (CTD). When an Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) frequency radar signal is used to illuminate a conductive target, surface currents are induced upon the object which in turn give rise to LTR signals. These signals are re-radiated from the target and the results from a number of targets are presented. The experiment was performed using double ridged horn antenna in a pseudo-monostatic arrangement. A Vector network analyser (VNA) has been used to provide the UWB Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar signal. The distance between the transmitting antenna and the target objects has been kept at 1 metre for all the experiments performed and the power level at the VNA was set to 0dBm. The targets in the experimental setup are suspended in air in a laboratory environment. Matlab has been used in post processing to perform linear and non-linear deconvolution of the signal. The Wiener filter, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) are used to process the return signals and extract the LTR features from the noise clutter. A Generalized Pencil-of-Function (GPOF) method was then used to extract the complex poles of the signal. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) have been used to classify the data.

In this paper, an X-band, 8-element wideband digital array radar (DAR) test-bed is presented, which makes use of a novel digital backend coupled with highly-integrated, multi-channel intermediate frequency (IF) digital receiver. Radar returns are received by the broadband antenna and then down-converted to the IF of 0.6GHz-3.0GHz. Four band-pass filters are applied in the front-end to divide the IF returns into four frequency bands with the instantaneous bandwidth of 500MHz. Every four array elements utilize a digital receiver, which is focused in this paper. The digital receivers are designed in a compact and flexible manner to meet the demands of DAR system. Each receiver consists of a fourchannel ADC, a high-performance FPGA, four DDR3 chips and two optical transceivers. With the sampling rate of up to 1.2GHz each channel, the ADC is capable of directly sampling the IF returns of four array elements at 10bits. In addition to serving as FIFO and controller, the onboard FPGA is also utilized for the implementation of various real-time algorithms such as DDC and channel calibration. Data is converted to bit stream and transferred through two low overhead, high data rate and multi-channel optical transceivers. Key technologies such as channel calibration and wideband DOA are studied with the measured data which is obtained in the experiments to illustrate the functionality of the system.