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We present a frequency-modulated continuous-wave secondary radar concept to estimate the offset in time and in frequency of two wireless units and to measure their distance relative to each other. By evaluating the Doppler frequency shift of the radar signals, the relative velocity of the mobile units is measured as well. The distance can be measured with a standard deviation as low as 1 cm. However, especially in indoor environments, the accuracy of the system can be degraded by multipath transmissions. Therefore, we show an extension of the algorithm to cope with multipath propagation. We also present the hardware setup of the measurement system. The system is tested in various environments. The results prove the excellent performance and outstanding reliability of the algorithms presented. Index Terms--Radar distance measurement, radar navigation, radar position measurement, synchronization.

In this paper, the novel principle of the switched injection-locked oscillator is introduced. It is shown that the concept is ideally suited for transponder and secondary radar systems with outstanding performance. A switched injection-locked oscillator transponder can produce an approximately phase coherent high-power response to an interrogating signal and, consequently, allows for long-range transponder systems and precise distance measurement between the reader and transponder. The simple and elegant round-trip time-of-flight measurement concept introduced in this paper enables innovative localization and navigation systems. Furthermore, it can be applied in numerous areas such as sensor networks, RF identification and localization, ubiquitous computing, location sensitive billing, context dependent information services, or tracking and guiding. Index Terms--Backscatter transponder, oscillators, radar, radio navigation, radio position measurement, RF identification (RFID), secondary radar, transponders.

In this paper, the novel inverse synthetic aperture secondary radar wireless positioning technique is introduced. The proposed concept allows for a precise spatial localization of a backscatter transponder even in dense multipath environments. A novel secondary radar signal evaluation concept compensates for the unknown modulation phase of the returned signal and thus leads to radar signals comparable to common primary radar. With use of this concept, inverse synthetic aperture radar algorithms can be applied to the signals of backscatter transponder systems. In simulations and first experiments, we used a broadband holographic reconstruction principle to realize the inverse synthetic aperture approach. The movement of the transponder along a short arbitrary aperture path is determined with assisting relative sensors (dead reckoning or inertia sensors). A set of signals measured along the aperture is adaptively focused to the transponder position. By this focusing technique, multipath reflections can be suppressed impressively and a precise indoor positioning becomes feasible. With our technique, completely new and powerful options for integrated navigation and sensor fusion in RF identification systems and wireless local positioning systems are now possible. Index Terms--Position measurement, radio navigation, secondary radar, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), transponders.

Synthesizers for the generation of frequency- or phase-modulated signals are required in communications, sensing, and many other fields and applications. The widespread use of phase-locked loops (PLLs) as major building blocks in current systems requires accurate models and methods for eliminating the influence of statistical and deterministic errors in the synthesized signals. We propose a novel iterative phase-error-measurement and -compensation procedure applicable in PLL-based synthesizers, for which the mathematical background is presented, and a detailed algorithmic description is given in this work. From a mathematical PLL system model and its response to a periodic excitation by the modulating signal, a method for measuring the instantaneous output signal phase and the actual transfer function of the PLL is derived. It is shown how this knowledge can advantageously be used for pre-distorting the synthesizer input signal to eliminate deterministic errors and to obtain an accurate output phase curve. Index Terms--Chirp radar, frequency synthesizers, phase-locked loops (PLLs), phase measurement.

The synthesis of linear frequency sweeps or chirps is required, among others, in frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar systems for object position estimation. Low phase and frequency errors in sweeps with high bandwidth are a prerequisite for good accuracy and resolution, but, in certain applications where high measurement rates are desired, the additional demand for short sweep cycles has to be met. Transient phenomena in dynamic synthesizers as well as nonlinear system behavior usually cause unknown phase errors in the system output. For the class of phaselocked-loop (PLL)-based frequency synthesizers, a novel output phase-measurement method and dedicated circuitry are proposed that allow significant reduction of phase errors by adaptive input predistortion. The measurement procedure is implemented within the PLL control circuitry and does not require external equipment. The application of this method to PLL system identification and linearization of extremely short frequency sweeps is shown. Index Terms--Chirp radar, frequency synthesizers, phaselocked loops (PLLs), phase measurement.

This paper presents a novel coherent full-duplex (FD) double-sided two-way ranging (CFDDS-TWR) technique for wireless locating and velocity measurement between separate radio units. The idea presented here is a quantum leap in wireless locating since it enables coherent ranging, continuous phase tracking, and velocity measurement between wireless units that operate incoherently with separate low-cost crystal oscillator clock sources. Frequency modulated continuous wave chirp sequences are exchanged in a FD manner between two radio units. The signals transmitted from two radio units are received, respectively, by each of the two units and down-converted in a mixer with the receiver’s own transmit signal to generate a beat signal in each unit. The two beat signals are then processed together, after one beat signal is transmitted to the partner unit. Phase coherent range and Doppler phase measurements can be conducted between incoherent radio units. The presented CFDDS-TWR technique also offers options for reducing noise-like distortions caused by mixing the products of uncorrelated phase noise. We show both analytically and experimentally that the described compensation method reduces the noise level and enhances the dynamic range of the ranging signals tremendously—as evidenced by an improvement of around 24 dB in our results. These unique signal and synchronization properties show that the CFDDS-TWR method is a highly accurate measurement approach. Results acquired with a 24-GHz test system in a 7- to 17-m range demonstrate a standard deviation in range and velocity of 0.25 mm and 0.05 mm/s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to technological advances in various fields and the rising demand for automation, the popularity of service robots is expected to grow rapidly in the upcoming years. One of the core functions of such robots is their interaction with people. One type of interaction, which is studied in this paper, is when the robot leads or follows a person. This presupposes that the position of the person is known relative to the mobile robot. In this paper, we present a 24-GHz wireless locating system to enable this kind of human–robot interaction. The system consists of a radar node attached to the robot and an active portable wireless beacon that is carried by the person. Using a secondary radar approach to measure the distance and angle to the beacon, the 2-D position of the person relative to the mobile robot can be accurately determined by a single radar node on the robot. This is unfeasible with standard multilateration localization approaches. An extended Kalman filter is used to increase the accuracy and reliability of the positioning system. The measurements presented in this paper, performed in a scenario that is both challenging and realistic, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many players in the service and manufacturing sectors, the cost associated with transportation processes is a key factor in competitiveness and market success. Innovations such as wireless connectivity, RF identification (RFID), and the Internet of Things have already transformed these industries, and this trend-stimulated by modern wireless technologies, wave-based imaging systems, and autonomous driving-is set to continue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]