In this paper, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform radar sensing approach is demonstrated based on field measurements at C-band. We demonstrate a concept that is based on the exploitation of typical wireless communication transmissions to perform passive, distributed radar sensing. Our concept is based on an OFDM radar that operates in the modulation symbol domain and can be well integrated into existing OFDM receivers. The measurement setup and the signal processing steps for the OFDM radar are described. The results show that the passive, distributed radar sensing approach can be used to detect and localize moving cars and even pedestrians in automotive intersection scenarios.

With the aim of performing perimeter surveillance of high-speed railway networks, this paper presents the design of a passive multistatic radar system based on the use of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) downlink signals as the illumination of opportunity. Taking into account the specifications and standard of the LTE system, the ambiguity function of measured downlink signals is analyzed in terms of range and Doppler resolution, ambiguities, and sidelobe level. The deployment of the proposed passive radar is flexible and scalable, and it is based on multichannel software defined radio receivers that obtain the reference and surveillance signals by means of digital beamforming. The signal processing and data fusion are based, respectively, on the delay-Doppler cross-correlation with the reconstructed reference signals and a two-stage tracking at sensor and central level. Finally, the performance of the proposed system is estimated in terms of its maximum detection range and simulation results of the detection of moving targets are presented, demonstrating its technical feasibility for the short-range detection of pedestrians, vehicles, and small drones.

Bitstreams, square wave digital signals, enable flexible radar implementations in modern digital technology. By using bitstreams in place of analog sinusoidal waveforms, we can realize continuous-wave (CW), stepped-frequency CW, frequency-modulated CW, or even pseudo random noise-sequence and pulsed radars, all with a single bit of amplitude resolution. The building blocks are a programable waveform generator, a sweep threshold quantizer, digital delay, and a digital XOR gate as a mixer. This gives us a novel, almost fully digital (requiring only a comparator) system, as previously proposed and which is extended here. The flexibility of the transmitter allows for easy switching between waveforms and the bitstream signal can be processed with single-bit digital gates. Single-bit signals allows for exploration of novel continuous time non-clocked digital implementations to maximize speed and energy efficiency. Mixing frequencies with a digital XOR gate creates harmonics, which are explored for multiple solutions utilizing digital delay. Analytical as well as simulation results are presented. Initial measurements from a 90 nm CMOS chip is provided for the transmitter and the full system, proving the feasibility of a digital future in radar.

We present the realization of a cooperative radar system for ranging applications with integrated data-transmission capability. The simultaneous transmission is performed by the radar-hardware without the necessity of additional components or an auxiliary data-link. Therefore, the data are directly embedded in the transmitted chirp of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar sensor. A second station, acting as receiver, uses an identical, but unmodulated chirp for down-conversion. The resulting signal then is processed by a non-coherent demodulator setup, extracting the communication data. Measurement results from transmission of messages with different bit-rates are shown. By utilizing existing radar-hardware a transmission rate of up to 256 kbps is possible, without the need of a dedicated transceiver. Additionally, a method to optimize the ranging results by variable distribution of the available signal power between distance-measurement and communication system is presented.

This paper describes the design considerations, integration issues, packaging, and experimental performance of recently developed D-Band dual-channel transceiver with on-chip antennas fabricated in a SiGe-BiCMOS technology. The design comprises a fully integrated transceiver circuit with quasi-monostatic architecture that operates between 114 and 124 GHz. All analog building blocks are controllable via a serial peripheral interface to reduce the number of connections and facilitate the communication between digital processor and analog building blocks. The two electromagnetically coupled patch antennas are placed on the top of the die with 8.6 dBi gain and have a simulated efficiency of 60%. The chip consumes 450 mW and is wire-bonded into an open-lid 5 × 5 mm2 quad-flat no-leads package. Measurement results for the estimation of range, and azimuth angle in single object situation are presented.

Recently DLR has developed and constructed a new experimental radar instrument [5] for various applications such as radar signature collection, synthetic aperture radar/ inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging, motion detection, tracking, etc., where high performance and high flexibility have been the key drivers for system design. Consequently the multi-purpose and multi-channel radar called GigaRad is operated in X and Ku band and allows an overall bandwidth of up to 6 GHz, resulting in a theoretical range resolution of up to 2.5 cm. Hence, primary obligation is a detailed analysis of various possible error sources, being of no or less relevance for low-resolution systems. A high degree of digital technology enables advanced signal processing and error correction to be applied. The paper outlines main technical features of the radar system, the basic error correction and absolute calibration strategy, frequency limitations, and illustrates some imaging results.

A 240-GHz monostatic circular polarized SiGe frequency-modulated continuous wave radar system based on a transceiver chip with a single on-chip antenna is presented. The radar transceiver front-end is implemented in a low-cost 0.13 µm SiGe HBT technology version with cut-off frequencies fT/fmax of 300/450 GHz. The transmit block comprises a wideband ×16 frequency multiplier chain, a three-stage PA, while the receive block consists of a low-noise amplifier, a fundamental quadrature down-conversion mixer, and a three-stage PA to drive the mixer. A differential branch-line coupler and a differential dual-polarized on-chip antenna are added on-chip to realize a fully integrated radar transceiver. All building blocks are implemented fully differential. The use of a single antenna in the circular polarized radar transceiver leads to compact size and high sensitivity. The measured peak-radiated power from the Si-lens equipped radar module is +11 dBm (equivalent isotropically radiated power) at 246 GHz and noise figure is 21 dB. The characterization bandwidth of the radar transceiver is 60 GHz around the center frequency of 240 GHz, and the simulated Tx-to-Rx leakage is below −20 dB from 230 to 260 GHz. After system calibration the resolution of the system to distinguish between two targets at different distance of 3.65 mm is achieved, which is only 21% above the theoretical limit.

In the following, a continuous wave radar system based on the Six-port principle will be shown for measurement tasks at enclosed systems needing micrometer accuracy as well as high update rates like tank level monitoring or hydraulic cylinder piston control. To exceed the ambiguity limit of such an interferometric system, a dual tone approach is used. The system will be presented with measurement results at 24 GHz within a WR42 waveguide to prove the feasibility of the proposed concept. Furthermore, considerations on timing will show the potential as a low-latency system, capable of high measurement data update rates, and different influences on the system performance and limitations of such a system will be discussed in comparison to alternative setups.

This paper presents the technical realization of the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar MIRA-CLE Ka (MIMO radar-configurable in Ka-band). This system is a stationary imaging radar without any mechanical moving parts. It is highly portable, ready to use in only a couple of minutes, and it is able to process one radar image per second during continuous radar measurements in the current stage of development. In addition to the image processing, it is possible to detect changes in range of 0.1 mm in the illuminated scene. The MIMO system operates in Ka band and consists of 16 receive and 16 transmit elements, so that 256 virtual elements are generated during signal processing. The size of the antenna's frontend is about 80 cm in width. Owing to its compact size, flexibility, and realtime capability, the system offers a wide field of applications.

The demanding tasks for automotive radar systems in multitarget scenarios require an increased target separation performance and new sensor concepts. In this contribution, a highly integrated 77 GHz time domain multiplex (TDM) MIMO radar is presented. The sensor is feasible for advanced direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in azimuth and elevation. For efficient and high-quality measurements a fractional-n phased locked loop (PLL) with integrated waveform generator, enabling chirp and frequency modulated continous waveform (FMCW) modulations, is implemented. Spatial beamforming is done with series feed array patch antennas in combination with a dielectric cylindrical lens. For the improvement of the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation performance a new lens-based MIMO radar approach is introduced. Therefore the classical MIMO approach is combined with the advantages of an optical beamforming concept. Due to the usage of these techniques the sensor performance in accuracy, ambiguity suppression, and angular resolution can be significantly increased.

We present a heterodyne frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar, applicable in short-range applications. Owing to a modulation of the transmit (TX) signal, the intermediate frequency (IF) signal can be shifted away from zero frequency to reduce the influence of dc-offsets and low-frequency disturbances like, e.g. flicker noise existing in components like mixers, amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters. The presented system is based on E-band transceivers realized in SiGe technology, which are fully integrated with antennas in a plastic package. A sinusoidal modulation of the TX signal is realized by a binary phase-shift keying modulator, which is controlled by a Delta–Sigma sequence. The choice of a sinusoidal modulation allows to reuse signal processing blocks which are typically available in FMCW radars. Measurements show that the achievable signal-to-noise ratio is comparable to a homodyne realization since the Delta–Sigma noise can be filtered in the IF stage. Experiments with a bandwidth of 8 GHz demonstrate measurements down to 12 cm with standard deviations of the measured ranges lower than 60 µm. Compared to a homodyne realization the blocking distance could be reduced by approximately 40 mm.

In this paper a monostatic frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system around a center frequency of 24 GHz with a wide tuning range of 8 GHz (≈33%) is presented. It is based on a fully integrated single-channel SiGe transceiver chip. The chip architecture consists of a fundamental VCO, a receive mixer, a divider chain, and coupling/matching networks. All circuits, except for the divider, are designed with the extensive use of on-chip monolithic integrated spiral inductors. The chip is fabricated in a SiGe bipolar production technology which offers an fT of 170 GHz and fmax of 250 GHz. The phase noise at 1 MHz offset is better than −100 dBc/Hz over the full-tuning range of 8 GHz and a phase noise of better than −111 dBc/Hz is achieved at 27 GHz. The peak output power of the chip is −1 dBm while the receive mixer offers a 1 dBm input referred compression point to keep it from being saturated. The chip has a power consumption of 245 mW and uses an area of 1.51 mm2. The FMCW radar system achieves a power consumption below 1.6 W. Owing to the high stability of the sensor, high accuracy mesaurements with a range error <±250 µm were achieved. The standard deviation between repeated measurements of the same target is 0.6 µm and the spatial resolution is 28 mm.

Radar sensors are key components of modern driver assistance systems. The application of such systems in urban environments for safety applications is the primary goal of the project “Radar on Chip for Cars” (RoCC). Major outcomes of this project will be presented and discussed in this contribution. These outcomes include the specification of radar sensors for future driver assistance systems, radar concepts, and integration technologies for silicon-germanium (SiGe) MMICs, as well as the development and evaluation of a system demonstrator. A radar architecture utilizing planar antennas and highly integrated components will be proposed and discussed with respect to system specifications. The developed system demonstrator will be evaluated in terms of key parameters such as field of view, distance, and angular separability. Finally, as an outlook a new mid range radar (MRR) will be introduced incorporating several concepts and technologies developed in this project.

A general purpose two-channel Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW)-sensor in E-band is extended to a digital-beam-forming (DBF) system. The hardware extension contains a transmit multiplexer, which allows switching of the (DBF) transmit signal of the sensor to any of 32 linearly arranged waveguide antennae. To maintain the spatial sampling condition by λ/2 element distance, the antenna ports are arranged in the E-plane. The ports can directly radiate or serve as primary radiators of a cylindrical dielectric lens focusing in the H-plane. By realizing the hardware extension based on a metal-backed substrate, some novel radio frequency (RF) structures became necessary. One of these structures is a special twisting microstrip-to-waveguide-transition to connect the switching matrix to waveguide ports arranged in the E-plane. Key elements of the multiplexer are commercially available pin-diode-based MMIC-switches in microstrip technology. To lower the inductance of the interconnects, they are embedded in cavities in the metal-backed RF-substrate. RF interconnects between the sensor and the extension are all done with waveguide ports. Further interconnects between the module and the extension are low-frequency or digital and are led via cables and removable plugs. Both module and extension can be powered separately. This gives an easily mountable extension for making a two-dimensional (2D) DBF sensor out of a 1D FMCW-sensor.

In this paper, radar transmitter circuits for next generation automotive radar sensors are presented. A 79 GHz radar transmitter with an output power of 14.5 dBm consuming only 165 mA (including frequency dividers) from a 3.3 V supply voltage clearly shows the advantage of using an improved SiGe technology with an fmax of 380 GHz. In addition, two radar transmitters for higher frequencies (around 150 GHz) based on frequency doubler circuits are showing the potential of SiGe technologies. The first transmitter achieves an output power of 3 dBm (single ended) at 144 GHz, whereas the second transmitters delivers a differential output power of 0 dBm at 150 GHz. Both transmitters achieve an ultra-wide tuning range of about 45 GHz.

The field of short- and mid-range radar sensors for automotive comfort and safety systems is a fast-growing market. The frequency regulation provides a new 76–81 GHz frequency band, which will be mandatory in the EU for ultra-wideband sensors from 2018. In the “radar-on-chip for cars” (RoCC) project funded by the German Ministry of Research (BMBF), a new technology was developed based on SiGe components with the objective to make the sensors affordable for all car platforms. This paper reports on the contribution of Continental A.D.C. GmbH to the joint “RoCC” project. The aim of the project was to exploit the cost-reduction potential of the SiGe technology by a further integration of the individual components and to show that the reliability and the functionality of the new sensors can meet the current requirements of the market. For this purpose, we evaluated the new eWLB package technology of Infineon. The Institute of Microwave Techniques of the University of Ulm supported us in designing a substrate integrated slotted waveguide antenna array. Demonstration sensors for short- and mid-range applications were built up and tested in the laboratory. To show the ability of the sensors to deal with real scenarios on the road, they were integrated into an experimental vehicle.

Radar sensors operating in the 76 81 GHz range are considered as essential parts of future vehicle safety systems and could significantly contribute in reducing the number of traffic casualties. Yet high manufacturing costs prevented their broad utilization in cars in the past. Today's SiGe processes show high potential to bring down cost of millimeter (mm)-wave systems into a range where they become attractive for mid- to low-priced cars. However, despite the impressing results achieved so far there is still a lot of work left to be done to achieve the final goal of “affordable radar safety for all”.

The paper is a joint work between the LEAT (France) and the ENRI (Japan) in the framework of a Sakura project supported by the JSPS and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose is the study of a FOD (Foreign Object Debris) detection system on airport runways. An FM-CW mm-wave radar working between 76.25 and 76.75 GHz is used together with a high directivity printed reflectarray. In addition, a second measurement campaign has been conducted with a 73.8–79.8 GHz (6 GHz band) radar. Measurement results show detection capabilities of a −20 dBsm cylinder up to 35 m that is 10 m less than the FAA recommendations. Antenna improvements are discussed for reaching the requirements and system performance as well as the use of calibration objects.

This paper introduces a radar system for three-dimensional (3D) object detection and imaging. The presented 3D measurement method combines the frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) approach for range measurements with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique for digital beamforming in two dimensions. With an orthogonal arrangement of the antenna arrays for transmit and receive, the angular information is obtained in azimuth and elevation without mechanical beamsteering. The proposed principle allows performing 3D imaging by means of the acquired range, azimuth, and elevation information with a minimum of required hardware. Starting from the realization of the 3D radar imaging concept, the hardware architecture and the developed prototype are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the object detection capability of the 3D imaging radar system is demonstrated by measurements. The results show that the introduced 3D measurement concept in its realization is well suited for numerous applications.

This paper describes an automatic-dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS–B) implementation for air-to-air and ground-based experimental surveillance within a prototype of a fully automated air traffic management (ATM) system, under a trajectory-based-operations paradigm. The system is built using an air-inclusive implementation of system wide information management (SWIM). This work describes the relations between airborne and ground surveillance (SURGND), the prototype surveillance systems, and their algorithms. System's performance is analyzed with simulated and real data. Results show that the proposed ADS–B implementation can fulfill the most demanding surveillance accuracy requirements.