Design and performance of an ultra-wideband stepped-frequency radar with precise frequency control for landmine and IED detection

Brian R. Phelan; Kelly D. Sherbondy; Kenneth I. Ranney; Ram M. Narayanan

doi:10.1117/12.2050928

29 May 2014 Design and performance of an ultra-wideband stepped-frequency radar with precise frequency control for landmine and IED detection

Brian R. Phelan, Kelly D. Sherbondy, Kenneth I. Ranney, Ram M. Narayanan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9077, Radar Sensor Technology XVIII; 907708 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050928
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has developed an impulse-based vehicle-mounted forward-looking ultra- wideband (UWB) radar for imaging buried landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). However, there is no control of the radiated spectrum in this system. As part of ARL's Partnerships in Research Transition (PIRT) program, the above deficiency is addressed by the design of a Stepped-Frequency Radar (SFR) which allows for precise control over the radiated spectrum, while still maintaining an effective ultra-wide bandwidth. The SFR utilizes a frequency synthesizer which can be configured to excise prohibited and interfering frequency bands and also implement frequency-hopping capabilities. The SFR is designed to be a forward-looking ground- penetrating (FLGPR) Radar utilizing a uniform linear array of sixteen (16) Vivaldi notch receive antennas and two (2) Quad-ridge horn transmit antennas. While a preliminary SFR consisting of four (4) receive channels has been designed, this paper describes major improvements to the system, and an analysis of expected system performance. The 4-channel system will be used to validate the SFR design which will eventually be augmented in to the full 16-channel system. The SFR has an operating frequency band which ranges from 300 - 2000 MHz, and a minimum frequency step-size of 1 MHz. The radar system is capable of illuminating range swaths that have maximum extents of 30 to 150 meters (programmable). The transmitter has the ability to produce approximately -2 dBm/MHz average power over the entire operating frequency range. The SFR will be used to determine the practicality of detecting and classifying buried and concealed landmines and IEDs from safe stand-off distances.

Citation Download Citation

Brian R. Phelan, Kelly D. Sherbondy, Kenneth I. Ranney, and Ram M. Narayanan "Design and performance of an ultra-wideband stepped-frequency radar with precise frequency control for landmine and IED detection", Proc. SPIE 9077, Radar Sensor Technology XVIII, 907708 (29 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050928

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available