Open-Source Software-Defined Radio Receiver Platform for Harmonic Radar Applications to Track Airborne Insects

Abstract

We report on the development and integration of a cost-effective, open-source software-defined radio (SDR) receiver into a harmonic radar system to study the movement patterns of insect pollinators. A Raspberry Pi along with the SDR collects data to process it and subsequently transfers it wirelessly via an ad-hoc WiFi network to a host computer. This remote access receiver was programmed fully using Python. We describe the SDR system along with preliminary testing of the radar receiver in a laboratory setting.