Reflection Angle Dependency Evaluations of Typical Foreign Object Debris on Airport Runway Using Optically-Connected 96 GHz Millimeter-Wave Radar System

Abstract

An airport runway foreign object debris (FOD) detection system enables automatic detection of small objects which may cause damage to aircraft. We have been developing a FOD detection system based on an optically-connected 96 GHz distributed-type millimeter-wave radar. In this paper, the reflection angle dependency of 11 typical pieces of FOD on an airport runway are measured using a prototype millimeter-wave radar system located in the actual airport. The measured FOD includes a metallic cylinder, a plastic ball, a wrench, a bolt, and a metallic strip. Then, the detection probabilities of the FOD are evaluated based on the measurement results. The detection probabilities of all pieces of FOD are 100% at a distance of 250 m. In addition, the detection probability will be 100% at 500 m with a 10 dB improvement in radar sensitivity.