X-band ubiquitous radar system: First experimental results

Abstract

This paper presents the first experimental results of an ubiquitous frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system demonstrator, working in the 8.75 GHz (X band). This system, which main application is in the area of surface surveillance radars, has been developed within the framework of the project numbered as TEC2014-53815-R (RAD-DAR), and is currently under its field-testing phase. This article presents the demonstrator and describes its main blocks. Subsequently, it focuses on signal acquisition and digitization, to later explain the offline coherent signal processing carried out with the captured data. After this, the document introduces the chosen scenario for the first field tests, and shows the first results of the offline processing, illustrated with Range-Doppler matrices and detection figures. Finally, the paper introduces future work lines, including the development of a radar data processor taking advantage of the achieved strong range-speed association.