Feasibility Study of Forward-Looking Imaging Radar Applicable to an Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Abstract

This study describes the design and verification of short range UWB(Ultra Wideband) imaging radar that is able to display high resolution radar image for front area of a UGV(Unmanned Ground Vehicle). This radar can help a UGV to navigate autonomously as it detects and avoids obstacles through foliage. We describe the relationship between bandwidth of transmitting signal and range resolution. A vivaldi antenna is designed and it's radiation pattern and reflection are measured. It is easy to make array antenna because of small size and thin shape. Aperture size of receiving array antenna is determined by azimuth resolution of radar image. The relation of interval of receiving antenna array, image resolution and aliasing of target on a radar image is analyzed. A vector network analyzer is used to obtain the reflected signal and corner reflectors as targets are positioned at grass field. Applicability of the proposed radar to UGV is proved by analysis of image resolution and penetrating capability for grass in the experiment.

A Study on Block Processing Approach for Mono-Static Terrain Imaging Radar

“…이 중 Range-Doppler 알고리즘은 [5] 이와 관련하여 Back-projection 알고리즘을 기반으 로 전방 관측 레이더에 관한 연구를 발표한 바 있으 며 [10] , 앞서 언급한 기존의 합성개구면 레이더의 영 상 형성 알고리즘 외 새로운 알고리즘의 적용 가능 성을 연구하여 발표한 바 있다 [11], [12] . 차는 크지 않기 때문에 differential RCMC는 적용하 지 않아도 충분하다.…”

Augmenting traversability maps with ultra-wideband radar to enhance obstacle detection in vegetated environments

“…In [17] a custom radar array is built to study the possibility to detect obstacles through vegetation. However, this study concentrate only on UWB radar-based obstacle detection and does not address the terrain traversability.…”

Image enhancement in forward imaging radar using modified apodisation technique

“…However, in some applications, a real antenna array is required because the synthetic array can be hardly obtained, especially in forward‐looking imaging applications. For example, the vehicle‐mounted forward imaging radar (FIRA) using a real aperture was used to inspect the front ground surface of the platform [1–3].…”

“…The following section describes the proposed method in detail, and the effectiveness of the method is verified by simulation in the case of the point targets. The effectiveness is also proved by experiment using a real FIRA introduced in [1].…”

“…FIRA using a chirp pulse‐based UWB signal was developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) of South Korea [1]. Synchronous impulse reconstruction using an impulse‐based UWB signal was developed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) of the United States [2].…”