Telecommunication Engineering

Multibeam and multifunction radar

Course objectives

Modern adaptive and non-adaptive processing techniques are introduced for the control of multiple antenna beams for target direction of arrival estimation, target tracking, cancellation of EM interference and 3D processing. At the end of the class, the student has matured the capability to design a radar system with multiple beams, by setting its main parameters. Moreover he/she knows the main techniques used for multi-channel radar adaptive signal processing and is able to evaluate their performance by means of theoretical and simulated analysis. SPECIFIC • Knowledge and understanding: to know and understand advanced radar systems that exploit multiple antenna beams based on methods and technological solutions at the state of the art and beyond. • Applying knowledge and understanding: to be able to apply methodologies and techniques typical of multi-beam radar in order to solve system design problems and/or to effectively process the received signals. • Making judgements: to be able to make judgements on alternative technological and design solutions and, consequently, to get the capability to formulate proper choices. • Communication skills: to know how to critically illustrate the adopted solutions and the obtained results by describing the employed methodologies to specialists of the field, based on appropriate technical language and style. • Learning skills: to be able to study in an autonomous way and to detect errors and, consequently, to identify proper corrections to be applied based on an autonomous iterative procedure.

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FABIOLA COLONE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program

Multifunctional radar and multibeam radar systems for search and tracking. Introduction to the course (3 hours) Phased array antennas (12 hours): - Principles of beamforming and electronic scanning - 1D e 2D array - pattern control via tapering functions Technological solutions for antenna array (10 hours): - analog and digital beamforming techniques - technological issues and trade-off - wide-band systems - design approaches 3D multibeam radar (10 hours): - height estimation - multibeam systems for height measurement - integrated scheme with multibeam monopulse Target tracking in multibeam radar systems (10 hours): - track-while-scan systems - tracker basic scheme - motion and measurements models - Kalman filter Side-Lobe Blanker (SLB) e Side-Lobe Canceller (SLC) (5 hours): - effect of pulse jammers on the radar performance - SLB techniques - high duty cycle jammers - SLC techniques Adaptive Antenna Array (10 hours): - adaptive cancellation of interferers - monopulse in the presence of interferences - angular estimation with antenna array - space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques Multifunctional and multibeam radar systems for ground based, ship based, air based and space-based applications. Performance evaluation for phased array radar systems and for radar systems equipped with adaptive antennas array.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of radio and radar techniques, radar systems, signal theory, and statistical decision theory. There are no prerequisites for other courses.

Books

Viewgraphs of the course available on the webpage of the lecturer: https://fabiolacolone.site.uniroma1.it/rmm

Teaching mode

The teaching method for the academic year 2021/2022 (traditional/remote/blended) will depend of the regulations following the covid-19 emergency. Teaching activities include lessons, exercises, and seminars. The exercises focus on the software implementation of processing techniques and design strategies for multi-beam radar systems aiming at the simulated performance analysis of such systems.

Frequency

Attendance is optional.

Exam mode

The final exam includes practical design activities to be carried on by the student at home (homework). The results of these activities are evaluated in the framework of an oral exam, during which the student illustrates the outputs of his/her homework. Specifically, the activities include the design and performance evaluation of a basic multi-beam radar system. The theoretical investigations are supported by simulations exercises based on the MatLab programming tool.

Bibliography

• A. Farina, “Antenna-Based Signal Processing techniques for Radar Systems”, Artech House, 1992. • Sabatini, Tarantino, “Multifunction Array Radar: System Design and Analysis”, Artech House, 1994. • M. I. Skolnik, “Radar Handbook”, McGraw-Hill, chapters selection: - Cap. 7 “Phased Array Radar Antennas” (Cheston-Frank); - Cap. 8 “Automatic Detection, Tracking, and Sensor Integration” (Trunk); - Cap. 9 “Electronic Counter Countermeasures” (Farina); - Cap. 20 “Height Finding and 3D Radar” (Murrow)

Lesson mode

Teaching activities include lessons, exercises, and seminars. The exercises focus on the software implementation of processing techniques and design strategies for multi-beam radar systems aiming at the simulated performance analysis of such systems.