Radar assisted detection of passive electronic components

Abstract

In this contribution a radar assisted method is presented for the search for persons buried e.g. in collapsed buildings. Classical detection technology covers borescopes and geophones in combination with K-9 units (search and rescue dogs) for search and rescue missions in ruins, detritus and cones of debris. An improved and time efficient approach for search of vital signs can be realized with UWB (ultra wide band) radar systems, where a very short wide band pulse is transmitted, or with continuous wave (CW) radar systems for measuring movements like respiration. But instead of searching these vital sings, the presented method aims for people carrying electronic RF-devices. The search for these electronic RF-devices can be assisted with pulse radar systems. Frequency filters of such devices can be exposed to a radar pulse near the filters' resonance frequency and an echo can be detected, which enables the localization of the device and hopefully of the owner, too.