Enhanced resolution in simple radars

Many simple radars use fact-risetime pulses, but wide bandwidth does not translate into corresponding high resolution since the spectrum is far from flat. A scheme for enhancing down- and cross-range resolution of multiple targets through a two-step partial equalization of the spectrum is illustrated by detailed computer simulation, with emphasis on the tradeoffs between resolution and signal-to-noise ratios. Three examples are treated: two equal scattering centers, two unequal scattering centers, and compound target     

Short-distance ultra wideband radars

The possibility of ultrawideband (UWB) radar usage in various fields for remote measuring the object's motion at short distance is considered. Application of UWB radar in medicine for remote measuring of patient's heart activity and respiration is shown. The measuring method is described and practical results of tests are cited. The opportunity of radar application in other areas is described.     

Development of random signal radars

Development of random signal radar (RSR) over the past 30 years is described. Conventional methods of implementing RSR are summarized such as correlation, spectrum analysis, and anticorrelation. Some typical RSR systems are introduced, for example, noise frequency modulation CW radar, random binary phase-coded CW radar, etc., and their merits and demerits are also pointed out. Finally, RSR development trends are analyzed     

High-power Ka-band TWTs for airborne radars

Litton EDD is developing a new class of Ka-band traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) that use a novel integral-polepiece folded-waveguide circuit to generate peak and average powers up to 1,500 watts. Rugged and highly reliable, this new technology is especially suited for airborne radars. Ongoing developments to increase the average power, the bandwidth and the frequency may be useful for future designs     

Growler detection in sea clutter with coherent radars

Ship navigation through ice-infested waters is a problem of deep concern to the Canadian shipping and exploration industry. Conventional marine radars have difficulty detecting small pieces of glacial ice called growlers which are very hazardous to vessels if struck. In an effort to improve detection performance, X-band radar measurements were collected and analyzed to determine the characteristics of clutter and growler returns that could lead to their separability. These analyses suggested that coherent medium dwell-time processing (i.e., integration times of a fraction of a second) could provide improvement In growler detectability over conventional methods; and long dwell-time processing (i.e., integration times on the order of seconds) could provide even further improvement. We report on the performance of two new coherent, medium dwell-time detectors. A third detector which is representative of conventional marine radar serves as a basis for comparison Although significant improvement in growler detectability is achieved, the two coherent detectors still fall short of operational requirements. This leads to the development of a long dwell-time detector which provides considerably better performance. Empirical results indicate that this new detector could well satisfy stringent operational requirements     

Hierarchical resource management in adaptive airborne surveillance radars

In this paper we present hierarchical resource management algorithms for adaptive airborne surveillance radars. By abstracting the physical layer sensor performance into a quality of service measure, the resource management problem is formulated as a constrained Markov decision process. A two-level (two-timescale) resource management algorithm is presented based on Lagrangian relaxation. A numerical example is given with scenarios involving different target densities.     

UWB Perimeter Surveillance

This program will develop an automated and unmanned ultra-wide band (UWB) perimeter surveillance sensor designed to provide detection and tracking of personnel and vehicles at the perimeter of critical areas such as military installations and other such facilities. This effort describes the work being done for the protection of high value assets using a compact system which incorporates two technologies to enhance the probability of detection in stressing environments     

Arctic sea ice mapping with satellite radars

The drastic reduction of Arctic sea ice in recent years demands ice monitoring over various spatial and temporal scales. Sea ice backscatter signatures from field measurements and from model analyses are obtained at L-band and C-band frequencies. Based on these signatures, capabilities for Arctic sea ice mapping are determined for current and future satellite active microwave sensors including synthetic aperture radars (SAR) and scatterometers. This study includes L-band and C-band radars such as the ERS (European Remote Sensing), Envisat (Environmental Satellite), RADARSAT-1 and 2, ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite), and DESDnyl (Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of Ice). SARs with resolutions from 10 to 100 m, and the SMAP (Soil Moisture Active-Passive) scatterometer with resolutions from 1 to 10 km.     

Multitarget detection using synthetic sampled aperture radars

A new multitarget detection technique using synthetic sampled aperture radar (SSAMAR) is presented. In contrast with the standard approach to multitarget detection, this technique may not require the use of phase shifting or tapering hardware. SSAMAR doubles the target pattern resolution, attenuates the sidelobes to about -27 dB, and significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Computer simulation is used to illustrate and validate this technique. Multitarget patterns for both standard and SSAMAR operations are provided     

Analysis of interference effects on monopulse radars

The complete numerical analysis of angle-tracking performance of a coherent amplitude-comparison monopulse radar system in a two-target situation is described. This system, equipped with automatic gain control (AGC) and phase-locked loop (PLL), was originally invented for improving the target-tracking performance in multiple-target situation. The general behavior depends on Doppler separation of the targets relative to the bandwidths of AGC and PLL. The performance of this system has previously been roughly analyzed by using linear approximation for four extreme cases: wideband and narrowband AGC in combination with wideband and narrowband PLL. In this study, the author performs nonlinear analysis of the same system for all bandwidths of AGC and PLL, because Doppler separation varies over a wide range in actual tracker, and therefore it is indispensable to know the total system behavior. A special numerical technique called the Galerkin method is used. As a result of this analysis, the extensive target-tracking performance for all intermediate bandwidths of AGC and PLL has been clarified. The result is useful for actual target tracker design     

Ukraine institute of radio astronomy high-resolution radars

A review is given of recent activities undertaken in the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for the development of high-resolution radars. The radars developed include 95- and 36-GHz cloud radars and an airborne, Ku-band SAR radar system. They are capable to perform real-time, high-resolution measurements. The set-up of these instruments, the novel technical solutions, and the signal processing technique introduced are discussed. The results obtained with such instruments during measurement campaigns are presented as well.     

NETEX UWB test results

The goal of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Networking in Extreme Environments (NETEX) program is to create a wireless networking technology for the military user that enables robust connectivity in harsh environments and support its integration into new and emerging sensor and communication systems. Phase 1, resulted in a thorough understanding of the effects of ultra wide band (UWB) system operation on existing military spectrum users based on modeling, simulation, and measurements. In order to accomplish this task, the DARPA Advanced Technology Office (ATO) procured a set of UWB emitters and broadband antennas to use as interference sources and contracted with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC AD) Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E/sup 3/) Division to provide candidate victim systems from the existing (legacy) US naval aircraft and shipboard inventory for testing. Testing was conducted on seventeen legacy systems during October 2002 through March 2003. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the results of these tests. This paper will provide a brief discussion of the UWB emissions as described by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and describe the generic UWB emitter used for these tests. It will then provide a discussion of the results as they apply to the purpose of the NETEX program.     

Proposed UWB radar terminology

The term ultra-wideband (UWB) [which was formally defined by DARPA in 1990], for classifying an emerging technology in the field of radar and radio communications is synonymous with the following terms: baseband; video pulse; nonsinusoidal; carrierfree (carrierless); impulse; time-domain; super-resolution; ultra-high resolution; stealthy; spread spectrum; Rayleigh spectrum. The paper lists the terminologies that may be used for the emerging technology of UWB radar.     

UWB implications for spectrum management

This paper presents some of the challenges facing the introduction of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in wireless applications intended for commercial use, summarizes relevant regulatory and standards developments, and addresses potential implications on spectrum management and radio regulations.     

UWB radar for patient monitoring

During the last few years the Moscow Aviation Institute (Russia) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (Taiwan) have worked jointly on the development of ultrawideband (UWB) medical radars for remote and contactiess monitoring of patients in hospitals. Preliminary results of these works were published in [1]. As of the present, several radars have been produced and tested in real conditions in hospitals in Russia and Taiwan. Some results of these tests are given.     

Compact antennas for UWB applications

A report on an investigation of spherical, disc, and half-disc antennas in the frequency and time domains with the objective of developing small planar versions of the antennas. These antennas have an omni-directional impulse response in azimuth and pulse duration of 0.5-0.65 nanoseconds. In addition, the measured data show a reasonable peak received signal in a pulse communication link using two identical antennas.     

Low altitude wind shear detection using airport surveillance radars

This paper describes an enhanced weather processor for the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR-9) that will include Doppler wind estimation for the detection of low altitude wind shear, scan-to-scan tracking to provide estimates of the speed and direction of storm movement and suppression' of spurious weather reports currently generated by the ASR-9's six-level weather channel during episodes of anomalous radar energy propagation (AP). This ASR-9 Wind Shear Processor (WSP) will be implemented as a retrofit to the ASR-9 through the addition of interfaces, receiving chain hardware and high-speed digital processing and display equipment. Thunderstorm activity in terminal airspace (the volume extending approximately 30 nmi from an airport and to 15,000 feet altitude) is an obvious safety issue and makes a significant overall contribution to delay in the United States commercial aviation industry. Analysis and on-line testing of the prototype ASR-9 WSP has confirmed that the system can provide operationally beneficial detection of low-altitude wind shear phenomena and enhanced weather situational awareness for Air Traffic Control teams     

The present and the future of random signal radars

The 30+ year development of random signal radar (RSR) is described in this paper. Conventional methods of implementing RSRs are summarized: correlation, spectrum analysis, and anti-correlation. Some typical RSR systems are introduced; for example: noise frequency modulation continuous wave radar; and random binary phase-coded continuous wave radar, and their merits and demerits are also pointed out. Finally, the development trends of RSR is analyzed     

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