Projects:2021s1-13011 Waveform Design Using Software Defined Radar

Abstract

The objective of this project is to research and develop a software designed surveillance radar which is able to transmit signals designed in GNU radio. Software designed radars are an attractive concept since they enable radar systems to be highly flexible with operating parameters. Compared to traditional radar systems, their functionality can be altered through software and are also lower in cost to produce. In this project, different waveforms designed in GNU radio will be transmitted by a USRP based surveillance radar and changes in the radars performance will be recorded and related back to what characteristic was altered in the waveform.

Introduction

Radar systems are used all over the world in many industries and by the government. Existing radars include detection and surveillance radars, targeting radars, navigational radars and more. A conventional radar system works by emitting an RF signal from an antenna. The signal scatters off a target and part of it this scattered signal is captured by a receiving antenna. The received RF waveform can then be processed to determine the direction, speed, range and altitude of a target. When it comes to the performance of radars, there are several factors which must be taken into consideration including power, hardware, environment and bandwidth availability. At times these factors can not be controlled, instead it is possible to look at changing the transmitted signal in order to alter the radars performance.

In this project focus is placed on the design of the waveform, characteristics including pulse waveforms and continuous waveforms will be considered when designing the waveform. Pulse radar systems typically provide greater measurement range compared to continuous waveform radars and have a lower power consumption. While continuous waveform radars will provide continuous updates of a targets information for better resolution. Considerations like these will be taken into account in the waveform design of this project in order to design a waveform which combines these two waveforms and benefit from both their strong suits. Hardware of this project will include a single USRP N210 two ADALM-Pluto SDR's and two monopole antennas created from cans. This hardware will be used in co-operation with GNU Radio to create a software designed surveillance radar capable of transmitting different signals.

Project Students

Daniel Yue, Rui Yan and Ksenija Malesevic

Project Supervisors

Brian NG, Said Al Sarawi and Waddah Al-Ashwal (SRC)