Three R's of radar: recollections, remonstrances, and ruminations

The author describes his experiences in the early days in radar, working on a radar landing system called ground control approach (GCA). He discusses for the disparity between the short time from conception to worldwide deployment of that system and today's 10- to 15-year cycle, as well as GCA's high (100%) availability, and identifies the factors responsible. The author goes on to argue that the radar community has a history of overselling what radar can do. He forecasts future trends and concludes with a few things he has learned over the years     

Ultra-wideband ground-penetrating radar for the detection of buriedmetallic mines

The suitability of ultra-wideband ground-penetrating radar as a tool for the detection of buried metallic mines is explored in this paper. The analysis centers around a 200-800 MHz, dual-polarized ground penetrating radar (GPR) designed and built by SRI International. The analysis consisted of fusing the images from the dual polarizations into a single image to enhance the target objects and suppress clutter. Results are shown for several variations of a Mahalanobis-based fusion technique, and “soft decision” minefield detection results based upon Monte Carlo statistical techniques are also presented. Although relatively few scenes were analyzed, these results show that the dual-polarized GPR is potentially very effective at finding buried mines and minefields     

Radar Handbook, 3rd Edition (M.I. Skolnik, Ed; 2008) [Book Review]

Thirty eight radar experts contribute to this edition, which includes six completely new chapters on the following topics: ground penetrating radar; remote sensing with radar on satellites; multifunctional radar systems for fighter aircraft (MFAR); digital signal processing for radar; civil marine radar; and propagation. Each chapter contains references, ranging from 10 to 197, with a median of 71. The index runs 18 pages printed in double columns, but is not necessarily complete. Some topics, such as MIMO radar and long range radars to track satellites and ballistic missiles, will have to wait for a 4th edition. This text is the most authoritative, broadest, and deepest single volume on radar. The emphasis is on real world performance and real hardware that has been tested and works successfully in the real world, and the physics relevant to radar systems, as well as radar system engineering cost tradeoffs.     

Performance of an adaptive feature-based processor for a wideband ground penetrating radar system

A two-stage algorithm for landmine detection with a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system is described. First, 3-D data sets are processed using a computationally inexpensive pre-screening algorithm which flags potential locations of interest. These flagged locations are then passed to a feature-based processor which further discriminates target-like anomalies from naturally occurring clutter. Current field trial (over 6500 square meters) and blind test results (over 39000 square meters) are presented and these show at least an order of magnitude improvement over other radar system-based detection algorithms on the same test lanes.     

基于频谱和倒谱分析的探地雷达地杂波抑制

超宽带探地雷达被广泛用于检测浅层埋藏的反人员地雷,其中滤除强的地表反射回波是完成目标检测、成像与识别的关键。将独立分量分析算法与数据非一致性检测方法相结合,通过分析独立分量的频谱和倒谱,给出了一种可以适应多目标数据区域且自动选取独立分量的地杂波抑制方法。实验结果证明了该方法的可行性和有效性。     

Mitigating Range Ambiguity in High PRF Radar using Inter-Pulse Binary Coding

The paper proposes a way to increase the energy within a coherent processing interval (CPI) using more pulses instead of longer pulses. Long coded pulses result in masking targets at close range and poor Doppler tolerance. Increasing the number of pulses implies high pulse repetition frequency (PRF), which suffers from range ambiguity and target folding. These drawbacks of a high PRF can be mitigated by inter-pulse coding. The approach suggested here should be attractive for close and mid range applications of radar, ground penetrating radar, ultrasound imaging, and more.     

进近雷达管制调速问题研究

对进近雷达管制中的调速问题进行了较全面的讨论。首先介绍了国际民航组织和中国在这方面的具体规定;详述了指示空速和真空速的对应关系;最后根据多年的雷达管制教学经验,提出了一些具体的调速方法和注意事项。     

High Resolution in Azimuth for Radar Targets Moving on a Straight Line

Target classification is sometimes desired together with airspace surveillance. To some extent this is possible by observing the flight track resulting from typical radar plots. A possibility for measuring the lateral variation of the radar cross section for single targets is described in the following. This method assumes a straight unaccelerated flight path, at least for a few seconds, with tangential components. This restriction is mitigated by prevailing straight flight paths and by observation of targets with radar nets, so there is always a tangential component. This method is especially suitable for electronic steerable radar application.     

Design and applications of airborne radars in the VHF/UHF band

The simultaneous need for ground penetration and high resolution dictates the use of frequencies less than 500 MHz for imaging ground penetrating radar (GPR) designs. It is possible to build such systems with good performance and yet not interfere with ground installations operating in the same bands. The total number of airborne GPR systems needed to saturate the market is small, (possibly less than ten), and so the buildup of noise in this spectral region occupied by these radars will be negligible. This is fortunate, since there is a clear need for such radars in such areas as humanitarian demining and unexploded ordnance (UXO) mapping. Some formal set of guidelines is needed beyond that given in Part 15 of the FCC regulations, which both recognizes the need for airborne UWB radar operations, and still protects licensed users in the band     

Using Roll-Angle Measurements to Track Aicraft Maneuvers

Present day radar trackers used for air traffic control purposes perform satisfactorily during straight-line flight, but their performance during maneuvers is sometimes degraded. The introduction of the secondary surveillance radar mode S system makes transmission of several airborne measurements to the ground station possible. This paper investigates the use of one such parameter, roll angle, to assist present trackers during maneuvers to achieve accuracies comparable to those achieved during straightline ine flight.     

Radar: the evolution since World War II

Modern radar design has benefited from the evolution of specialized digital processing, allowing high resolution ground mapping, target identification, and target tracking under many conditions. Air-to-air interception makes use of complex decision processes to select from many modes that depend on the clutter backgrounds and flight profiles. Today's multimode radars provide this information for each task while minimizing distractions. Fire control radars support a wide selection of weapons, including cannons and guided missiles. This is possible because of advanced digital processing. In the interval since WW II, radar design evolved from vacuum tubes to semiconductors and then to massively integrated circuits. Computers specialized for fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) have revolutionized radar data processing. System reliability has improved from a few hours to hundreds of hours. Effective built-in test informs ground maintenance personnel of problems for easy maintenance and low failure rates reduce or eliminate field maintenance benches at forward locations. Airborne surveillance radars, such as AW ACS Joint Stars have changed the nature of warfare. Commanders have virtually full view of enemy and friendly forces. Radars, in combination with other remote sensors, provide precise weapon delivery, reducing collateral damage and making all weapons more effective     

Buried small objects detected by UWB GPR

A ground penetrating radar (GPR) using short-pulse is developed to detect small and shallow metal objects buried underground. A bistatic mode in which the GPR system uses separate transmitting and receiving antennas is applied. A modified fat dipole antenna is developed for the transmitting and receiving antennas. The prototype of the system is tested in the real environment and 2D visualization of raw data is achieved. We show that the developed system has a good ability to detect underground metal objects, and even small targets of several centimeters.     

Calibration of the MERIC full-polarimetric radar: theory and implementation

This paper describes the architecture and calibration design of the experimental ground based radar station MERIC. This full-polarimetric radar is conceived for the analysis and the recognition of non cooperative aircraft in flight.We carefully study how the full-polarimetric capability is obtained for a simultaneous transmit (simultaneous transmission of two linear FM with opposite slopes) radar system, using analogue deramping with a replica.The phase distortions of the signal propagating in the four polarimetric channels are carefully estimated. We define a phase calibrating method compatible with the outdoor measurements conditions and few constraints on reference targets.We show the phase accuracy obtained with the proposed calibration method on real measurements.     

Ground penetrating radar VIY-2

VIY-2 ground penetrating radar (GPR) with unique sounding possibilities and use simplicity is presented at this paper. VIY-2 GPR combines all units (synchronizer, transmitting and receiving modules, powering, and antenna system) into single case. The VIY-2 GPR communicates with computer via standard interface RS232 or USB1.0. Technical solutions utilized by the VIY-2 GPR reduce deployment time and simplify surveying process. The VIY-2 GPR design features and its components interaction are considered at this paper. Some field results are also presented here. The VIY-2 GPR design concept allows reducing the data acquisition time,, optimizing the time-varying gain control function, applying depth-stacking dependence, controlling the surveying window position and interference reducing by pulse repetition frequency randomizing.     

Sensitivity of MIMO STAP Radar with Waveform Diversity

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) is an effective method adopted in airborne radar to suppress ground clutter. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar is a new radar concept and has superiority over conventional radars. Recent proposals have been applying STAP in MIMO configuration to the improvement of the performance of conventional radars. As waveforms transmitted by MIMO radar can be correlated or uncorrelated with each other, this article develops a unified signal model incorporating waveforms for STAP in MIMO radar with waveform diversity. Through this framework, STAP performances are expressed as functions of the waveform covariance matrix (WCM). Then, effects of waveforms can be investigated. The sensitivity, i.e., the maximum range detectable, is shown to be proportional to the maximum eigenvalue of WCM. Both theoretical studies and numerical simulation examples illustrate the waveform effects on the sensitivity of MIMO STAP radar, based on which we can make better trade-off between waveforms to achieve optimal system performance.     

“飞鱼”一类导弹隐身突防性能的分析

 通过对“飞鱼”一类导弹的两种有代表性的突防方式的定量分析,得到对此类导弹提高隐身突防能力的三项措施:压低掠海飞行高度;超视距发射;减少正前方的雷达散射截面。     

From the vineyards: why the services don't get the weapons theyneed and why they aren't likely to

It is argued that the procurement of weapons by the US armed services is in crisis. Even before the bribery scandals, there was ample evidence that the whole process was in disarray. The author, a retired civil service electronics engineer, offers his personal opinion of how this happened. Two unsuccessful programs are discussed: an airborne radar designed for the US Air Force to search for vehicles moving on the ground and the Sergeant York, the US Army's attempt to build a radar-pointed, long-range, anti-aircraft gun     

基于机载单天线雷达一维距离数据的地表三维信息优化重建方法

陆地的刚体表面在机载雷达的任意相对运动下具有几何不变性,基于此约束可利用雷达距离像中提取出的地面多个强散射点的一维距离数据,重建出地表的三维信息以及载机未知的运动轨迹.鉴于现有基于雷达远场假设的重建方法无法适用于具有较大近场误差的地面目标重建的问题,提出一种基于雷达近场几何模型的优化重建方法,采用非线性优化方法实现了对...     

Multipath and ground clutter analysis for a UWB noise radar

An ultrawideband (UWB) random-noise radar operating in the 1-2 GHz frequency band has been developed and field-tested up to a 200 m range at the Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory (ERSL) of the University of Nebraska. A unique heterodyne correlation technique based on a delayed transmitted waveform using a photonic delay line has been used to inject coherence within this system. The performance of this radar in the presence of ground reflections is investigated analytically and experimentally, and the mitigating effects of UWB waveform on multipath-induced interference are analyzed. In addition, the ground clutter statistics, in a look-down mode, are theoretically established and experimentally verified. The performance of this radar in detecting clutter embedded targets with small radar cross section (RCS) is also experimentally examined.     

Rotating Blades Radio Interference in a Helicopter-Borne CW Doppler Radar

Radio interference generated in a helicopter-borne continuous wave (CW) Doppler radar system due to the rotating blades is analyzed. This problem has been previously treated for the case of pulse Doppler radar systems with very narrow (near zero) beamwidth. In this case the strong interference component returning directly from the blades (with no ground reflection) need not be considered as it reaches the receiver when it is still blinded. In the case of a CW Doppler radar, however, this interference component must be included. Numerical calculations show that the total blade interference power level, dominated by the direct component, is higher than that of the direct ground clutter in the radar clutter region. It decreases approximately as (f - fo)-4 in the radar clear region. It stays, however, well above the thermal noise level which might cause false alarm and degrade the radar performance.