Multiband Radar
Project:
400MHz-100GHz Multiband Radar
Advisors: Prof. Walter D. Burnside
Students: Rob Olmon, Matt Silverman, Steve Horst, Larry Martin, Keith Blevins, Jeff Duly
Project: 0.4–100GHz Compact Range Radar. This 2-year, $1.3 million project is aimed at designing and fabricating a state-of-the-art compact range radar for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MITLL) near Boston, MA. The radar system (when completed) will allow MITLL researchers to measure radar cross-section and antenna patterns far faster over a significantly larger bandwidth than ever before. The large bandwidth capability will also allow for examining wideband synthetic aperture radars to generate sharper radar images of distant objects. When complete, this multiband radar will be one of the most advanced RCS/Antenna measurement facilities in the world. The system is comprised of seven RF transceiver modules called "stems" to cover the frequency bands, an IF/Baseband subsystem, and a two-axis robotics subsystem to select and position a particular band stem to and from the compact range reflector's focal point.
Student Involvement: Undergraduate students have been involved in this project from its inception. Steve Horst worked with one of our staff researchers to design, fabricate and test an advanced digital receiver for baseband data processing. Rob Olmon, Matt Silverman, and Keith Blevins helped fabricate and test several subsystems and modules. Larry Martin is working with a researcher to create on-line help files and tutorials for the radar's operating system software.
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Radar view showing the radar package; at the top are the 7 'stems' for each radar band; left portion of the photo displays the tracks for automated antenna positioning and hook-up to each radar band. |
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Radar view showing computer controllers for the robotic radar operation. |
