Ultra-compact ultra-wideband radar for high-speed target tracking

Jakob Fusselman; Matthew Gilliam; Yunish Shrestha; Yan (Rockee) Zhang; Keith Kelly

doi:10.1117/12.2587215

12 April 2021 Ultra-compact ultra-wideband radar for high-speed target tracking

Jakob Fusselman, Matthew Gilliam, Yunish Shrestha, Yan (Rockee) Zhang, Keith Kelly

Proceedings Volume 11742, Radar Sensor Technology XXV; 117420F (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2587215
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2021, Online Only

Abstract

Using ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar for detecting and tracking fast-moving small targets over the ocean surface has been considered before with limited applications. The challenges of deploying such radar sensors on small, unmanned marine platforms are addressed in this study. The first challenge is the stringent size and weight requirement to allow a tracking radar sensor to be fitted into the payload of a small unmanned surface vehicle (USV). For the first time, we implemented a design that is based on a single chip UWB radar sensor operating at X-band, which effectively achieves the size and weight requirement for a small USV payload. The second challenge is range extension and range ambiguity resolution. With the UWB radar operating various high-PRF modes, we developed a novel approach that stitches together range profiles from multiple PRFs, to extend the effective non-ambiguous range at the cost of scan speed. The third challenge is developing a lowcost, ultra-wideband planar antenna and front-end, which is also part of the USV payload and needs to be able to perform either sector scanning, or even electronic scanning, with a very low profile. We have successfully designed and implemented one such antenna using a dipole array design. By integrating the solutions into a complete system, we have performed a series of lab and outdoor tests of the UWB radar sensor and obtained some promising target data. Simulations are also being developed for testing the potential target signatures and tracking effectiveness of moving targets over ocean surface clutter environments.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Jakob Fusselman, Matthew Gilliam, Yunish Shrestha, Yan (Rockee) Zhang, and Keith Kelly "Ultra-compact ultra-wideband radar for high-speed target tracking", Proc. SPIE 11742, Radar Sensor Technology XXV, 117420F (12 April 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2587215

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