X-band Radar Detection of Point Scatterers

David Breton

Nicholas Buckminster

Michael Leuchtenburg

Advisor: S. Frasier

Now…

• Current System– S-band FMCW– Vertical Profiling– Clear-air scatter– Watch atmospheric

boundary layer turbulence– Also receives interference

from other sources

The Solution

• Add X-band FMICW– Sees point scatterers better than the current

system– Combined with S-band response can create

cleaner data

The System Diagram, So Far

What We Said We’d Do

• All analog components other than the LPF • Working sampling, but not synchronization• Design of a synchronization method• Determining whether we need a microcontroller

for real-time control

Analog Construction

• All analog components other than the LPF– Acquired and assembled, except for receive-side IF

amplification• Signal levels attenuated and amplified to meet

intermediate component requirements

Sampling

• Working sampling without synchronization– Gage card receives signals and records data– Proven to be able to sample with at least a 1MHz

range

Synchronization

• Design of a synchronization method– The sampling system will be triggered at the

beginning of each sweep– This will allow it to determine when the data is valid

and when it is not

Real Time Control

• Why we need a microcontroller for real-time control– Tight timing constraints

• Starting sweeps• Transmit/Receive Switching• Signal receive sampling to begin

– Don’t have any way to control T/R switch from computer

What We Did

• All analog components other than the LPF • Working sampling, but not synchronization• Design of a synchronization method• Determining whether we need a microcontroller

for real-time control

Upcoming Events

• CDR– Processing software operational– Functional prototype

• Demonstration Day• Thank You - Questions, please