A MILLIMETER WAVE SCANNING RADAR SENSOR

A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) millimeter wave radar sensor (central
frequency 35 GHz) consists of a scanning electrically controlled linear ferrite Integrated
Phased Array (IPA), an E-sector horn (transmitting antenna), a low-noise millimeter
wave amplifier, a balanced mixer, a directional coupler, a Gunn oscillator and a control
circuitry. The IPA was developed by Electrically-Controlled Microwave Antennas
Laboratory of our department.
The IPA's scanning sector without switching of feeding ports is 50 degrees (-5..+45
degrees from normal). Switching of feeding ports can easily increase the scanning sector
to 90 degrees (-45..+45). A notebook computer was used to control the array via a
specially developed digital-to-analog converter. Such a technique proved to be necessary
to overcome the nonlinearity of an angle versus control current curve at the boundaries of
the scanning sector. The computer is simultaneously used for beam control, data
acquisition, processing and visualization. Visualization is done in a typical radar manner,
using range to target versus angle display (range maps).

Experiment was conducted inside a big empty room measuring 9 by 6 meters. The
prototype sensor's antennas were installed 18.5 cm above the floor level on top of a
power supply unit.
Two targets with known radar cross section (RCS):

• target #1 - metallic disk with 10 centimeters in diameter

• target #2 - metallic disk with 30 centimeters in diameter

were used for calibration and verification of previous theoretical estimations. Four other
targets include:

• target #3 - a granite cobblestone, roughly spherical, 15 cm diameter, dielectric

constant 6
• target #4 - a red brick, 25x15x12 cm, dielectric constant 4
• target #5 - a concrete cube, 15x15x15 cm, dielectric constant 10
• target #6 - a concrete block, 35x30x15 cm, dielectric constant 10
The radar image of the empty room, showing the reflection from the wall 8.4 meters
away.

The radar image of target #1 at 1.7 meter range and target #2 at 6.3 meter range.
The radar image of target #2 at 6.7 meter range and target #6 at 6.3 meter range.

Test targets #3, #5, #4 and #6 at ranges 1.8, 2.5, 4.1 and 6.0 meters respectively, the wall
at 8.4 meters.
The radar image of test targets #3, #5, #4 and #6 at ranges 1.8, 2.5, 4.1 and 6.0 meters
respectively, a wall at 8.4 meters.

Our research confirmed that it is possible to develop a small and simple millimeter wave
radar sensor for robotics automation and for other applications, like vehicle collision
avoidance. Even the simple prototype sensor showed good results in detecting different
 obstacles. Integrated phased arrays operating in a 4-millimeter wave band have a
narrower scanning sector but can offer higher gain, better directivity and wider frequency
band resulting in 2 to 3 times higher angular and range resolution of a radar sensor.

Director of the Laboratory: Evgeni L. Svechnikov, Ph.D.

Researchers:
Andrei A. Belov
Georgi P. Zhabko
Pavel A. Krinsky

radio.rphf.spbstu.ru/a263/mars.htm