A Wideband Imaging Radar For Through-the-Wall

Surveillance

SPIE Defense and Security Symposium

Technologies for Homeland Security and Law Enforcement

15 April, 2004

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 IMAGING RADAR DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

• Through the wall imaging

- funded by National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for law enforcement use
- tactical use in hostage, barricade, suspect search situations
- image interior building structure
- detect motion of people
- standoff capability
- demonstrate performance with brassboard system

• Perimeter surveillance for security of fixed and mobile assets

- funded by Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Rome Research Site
- system simulation and operational analysis
- human and vehicle motion detection at long range
- motion detection through coherent scene subtraction
- foliage penetration
- identify cost and performance drivers

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 BRASSBOARD IMAGING RADAR SYSTEM
Antenna Array

Antenna
Switchbox Radar

• Portable system
- 20 lb., 2.2 m long, 4 antenna, collapsible array
- battery powered
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 SYSTEM TECHNICAL CONCEPTS

• Range resolution is a function of bandwidth

- ∆R = c/2•BW
- for 1500 MHz BW, range resolution is 0.1 m

• Cross range resolution is determined by frequency and aperture size

• Fine cross range resolution at long distances requires large antennas

and/or higher frequencies of operation
- seeing that two people are standing next to one another matters

100 100
500 MHz 1000 MHz
Array Aperture - meters

Array Aperture - meters

80 80
0.1 m
0.2 m
0.2 m
60 0.5 m 60 0.5 m
1m
1m
2m
2m
40 5m 40
5m
10 m
10 m

20 20

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
Detection Range - meters Detection Range - meters

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 LOW OPERATING FREQUENCY REQUIRES APERTURE SYNTHESIS

• Moving a single antenna is impractical for most through wall situations

• A multiple antenna array improves cross range resolution significantly

- scanning the array further improves resolution by a factor of two

• Brassboard operational concept is a stationary system that scans an

antenna array to get data to synthesize a 2D image
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TEST CONFIGURATIONS - THROUGH THE WALL

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 INTERIOR WALL RESULTS

• Experimental data shows the

wall
effectiveness of increasing the configuration

aperture of the sensor system studs

• All current through the wall sensors

used fixed antennas

• However, the imaging algorithms do not

require use of a fixed array
buried
concrete
block
• Interior walls are relatively easy to see
tree
through
three parallel
walls

Note : 0.05 m wide stud appears to be 0.2 m wide at a distance of 4.6 m

from radar, illustrating effect of cross range resolution on image quality
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 REINFORCED CONCRETE WALL RESULTS

• Attenuation and dispersion

complicate image formation

• Without correction for

dispersion, images become
“defocused” 12” exterior poured, steel
reinforced concrete wall

• Only frequency domain sensing radar on inside of

methods allow for frequency room pointing out

dependent dispersion
correction
person 2

person 1

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 REINFORCED CONCRETE WALL RESULTS

corner reflections

• UCSB lecture hall person 2

person 1

• Strong corner reflections

from external wall supports metal trash cans

seen in background image

• Background subtraction
shows image of three trash
cans in triangle and two
people AKELA
MOTION DETECTION USES COHERENT SCENE SUBTRACTION

• Motion sensing works even in more

difficult, cluttered environments

• Composite image is from motion

detection experiment

• Trailer used for experiments is a

working administrative area

Interior office
where motion
test was
performed

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TEST CONFIGURATION - FOLIAGE PENETRATION AKELA
TEST CONFIGURATION -
FOLIAGE PENETRATION

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 SELECTED RESULTS

person in brush at 40 m
• Data taken on detection of individuals
through various types of foliage

• Distances of 32, 34, 38, 40, 44, 46 meters

• Breezy day with moving foliage

• Attenuation due to foliage ~ 20dB (similar

to three interior walls)
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 MAJOR AREAS IDENTIFIED FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Increase speed of radar

- allows motion detection at realistic rates
- allows better imaging through signal averaging

• Increase speed of display and processing

- required to handle increased data rate of faster radar

• Antenna array may ultimately limit overall system performance

- more robust array concept needed

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 CURRENT DEVELOPMENT HARDWARE

• 500 - 2000 MHz

• 10 µsec per point
• software defined
• 50 mW power output
• ~ $1,000 parts cost

Power conditioner Antenna connectors

Radar interface

• 4” diameter
• 1.5” tall
• ~ 13 watts
• battery powered
• 2.25 lbs w/battery

Radar Tx/Rx

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 8 ANTENNA INTERFACE BOARD

• Antenna switch network allows scanning

of up to 8 antennas
- uses only a single radar
- wired operation
- same operational concept as TTW
brassboard
- low cost, early option for field use

• Board mates to radar through two RF

connectors
- plug interface allows development of
boards with special characteristics
without requiring modification of
radar

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 FREQUENCY BAND OMISSION DURING TRANSMISSION

• FCC restrictions require strict control of transmission frequencies

- the ability to selectively notch frequencies will help with licensing

• Frequencies to notch selected by user from control interface

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 RECENT RESULTS

• Recent testing shows capability of the

radar to detect breathing of a stationary
person

• In the video a person walks from behind

and to the left of the radar, past the wall,
to the right around the chair, then sits in
the chair and remains motionless for a
while, finally getting up and walking back
out past the wall and radar on the left.

• For large motion algorithm, person

disappears from the image while sitting
still

Movie File (MPEG) Movie File (MPEG)

Small motion algorithm Large motion algorithm

Test Geometry
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 STATIC IMAGE

person

wall

• Image taken from single frame of breathing test

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 MORE RESULTS

• Tests recently completed on a series of 5 walls

- drywall, brick faced, concrete block, adobe, reinforced concrete
- all walls 12” thick

• Breathing response detected through each wall

- drywall: at 19’ from standoff of 12’
- brick: at 21’ from standoff of 14’
- concrete block: at 28’ from standoff of 21’
- adobe: at 16’ from standoff of 4’
- reinforced concrete: at 22’ from standoff of 10’

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 CONCLUSION

• Physics and technology for through-the-wall imaging are well

understood
- no fundamental principles limit success
- commercial technology exists for implementing a robust system

• Imaging and motion detection algorithms have been demonstrated with

real data

• Improvements in radar operation are extending the operational range

and sensitivity of through-the-wall imaging systems

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