Designing and Verifying Advanced Radar Systems within Complex Environment Scenarios

Aik-Chun, NG

Keysight Technologies

2015 Aerospace Defense Symposium

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Design and Test Challenges

Challenges: − Signal complexity increasing and becoming

more adaptive.

− Cross-domain (DSP-RF) architectures must

be considered.

− Receiver processing algorithms are becoming

more sophisticated, making design verification

and test necessary during both development

AND production.

− Incredibly complex operation environment

scenarios must be considered, including:

− Moving Radar platforms with array

antennas

− Moving targets in 3D volume

− Complex signaling environments

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Solution:

SystemVue; a modeling and simulation platform that can optimize the performance of

the entire Radar/EW system architecture.

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Typical Radar/EW application in SystemVue supports cross-domain, cosimulation with RF to include

real-world environments, such as interference, target RCS, clutter, jamming, and STK link for flight test

Radar/EW System Platform Solution

3 3

Signal Generation

Be

am

form

er

T/R

module

Measure-

ments

Receiver down/cnv

Signal Process

Radar

T/R

module

T/R

module

T/R

module

RF Circuits

Imported Antenna Pattern from EM

Interference

Detection RF

Receiver

Signal

processor

Waveform

Gen

EW

Clutter

Jamming

Target

STK Link

M93XX/M819X

M9392A/M9703

DUT

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Typical Radar Systems Supported − Continuous Waveform (CW) Radar modeling and simulation

− Pulse Radar simulation

− Pulsed-Doppler (PD) Radar architectures for airborne and ground/sea environment applications

− Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Radar and wideband receivers

− Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for raster imaging and mapping

− Stepped-Frequency Radar (SFR) for ground- and wall-penetrating applications

− Frequency Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) Radar for automotive applications

− Phased-array and digital-array Radar for passive and active arrays

− MIMO Radar for increased range resolution and robustness

− Passive bi-static radar simulation

− Radar EW with environment scenarios

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A Model-Based Approach to Radar System Design - RF&DSP mixed signal simulation technology

- mixed different IP together (C++, Matlab, HDL, RF)

- different level of model fidelity

TargetScatterLocation

Rx Platform

AntennaRx AntennaTx/Rx

Tx Platform

How to model such Radar Scenario?

For radar signal processing simulation,

echo generation is MUST.

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Radar Scenario Simulation Framework

Tx Antenna

Location- 1:N Rx Antenna

Location- 1:M 2. Antenna Setup

Rx Moving

Platform- 1:M Tx Moving

Platform – 1:N

Moving Target

With Multi-Scatters :

1:K

1. Platform Setup

Source

Receiver

Display/ Measurements

3. Data Flow Setup (signaling layer)

(Trajectory Layer)

(Antenna Layer)

Beam

former

T/R

T/R

T/R

T/R

Beam

former

T/R

T/R

T/R

T/R Moving Target

Interference

Clutter

Jamming

Targets θ

Φ

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Trajectory Layer Setup Example: Airborne Radar

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TX(3))

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Aerospace &

Defense

Symposium

© Agilent

Technologies, Inc.

2014

Antenna Layer Setup

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RADAR_Antenna_Tx

output

input

BeamElevation

BeamAzimuth

TargetElevation

TargetAzimuth

BeamElevationAngle= 0 °

BeamAzimuthAngle= 0 °

TargetElevationAngle=0°

TargetAzimuthAngle=0°

AngleStep= 1 °

PhiAngleEnd= 360 °

PhiAngleStart= 0 °

ThetaAngleEnd= 180 °

AntennaPatternArray=(65341x1) [1; 1; 1]

ThetaAngleStart= 0 °

Pattern=UserDefinedPattern

RadarWorkMode=Tracking

R1 {RADAR_Antenna_Tx@RADAR Models}

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Antenna Model

Radar Position

Target Position

Target Azimuth

Target Elevation

Output Target Position in Azimuth & Elevation

with reference to Radar Position

θ

Φ

Radar Position

Target Position

x

y

z

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Antenna Models

− Supports two work modes: search and tracking

− Antenna Patterns Supported − Supports many common antenna patterns (ie: uniform,

Cosine, Parabolic, etc)

− Also supports user-defined patterns

− Antenna Scan Patterns Supported − Circular, Bidirectional Sector scan, Unidirectional Sector

scan, Bidirectional raster, and Unidirectional raster.

− Moving target scenario supported

Imported

Antenna

Pattern

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Circular Scan

Raster Scan

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Phased-Array Antenna Model

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Signal Layer Design

Challenges

− Support cosimulation of

Signal Generation, DSP

and RF processing, as well

as EM

− Consider environmental

conditions like:

interference, target RCS,

clutter, jamming, and STK

link for flight test

Signal Generation

Be

am

form

er

T/R

module

Measure-

ments

Receiver down/cnv

Signal Process

Radar

T/R

module

T/R

module

T/R

module

RF Circuits

Imported Antenna

Pattern from EM

Interference

Clutter

Jamming

Target

STK Link

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Models to Support the Radar/EW Signal Layer Basic Advanced

Source CW Pulse, LFM, NLFM, FMCW, Binary

Phase Coded (Barker), Poly Phase

Coded (ZCCode, Frank), PolyTime,

FSK HP, Arbitrary PRN

DDS, UWB, SFR, SAR, Phased Array, MIMO

RF Behavior Tx and Rx Front-end, PA, LNA, Filters

DUC, DDC, ADC, DAC, T/R Modules

Antenna Antenna Tx and Rx Phased Array Antenna, Tx and Rx

Environments Clutters, Jamming, Interference Moving Target, Multi Scattering RCS, STK-Link

EW Detection, EP, ES, EA Receiver, DOA, Dynamic Signal Generation,

DRFM

Signal

Processing

Pulse Compression, Detection and

Tracking, CFAR, MTI, MTD

STAP, SF Processing, Beam forming, Adaptive

Phased Array Receiving

Measurements Waveform, Spectrum, Group Delay Imaging Display, Detection Rate, False Alarm

Rate, Range & Velocity Estimation, Antenna

Pattern 2D&3D

Moving Platform Moving Platform Tx & Rx

Systems CW Pulse, Pulse Doppler, UWB

FMCW, SFR, SAR

Phased Array

MIMO

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Radar/EW Sources

SignalX

Source Models

− Basic waveforms include CW Pulse, LFM, NLFM,

FMCW, Binary Phase Coded (Barker), Poly

Phase Coded (ZCCode, Frank), PolyTime, FSK,

Arbitrary PRN

− SignalX: Generates radar signals coded with

dynamic pulse offsets and jitter

− Supports random jamming

− Supports deceptions (e.g., RGPO and VGPO)

− Supports advanced systems for UWB, SAR, SFR,

phased array and MIMO

I LFM

NLFM

Barker

Frank

RGPO

Jamming

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Radar Basic Target Model

• Model target echo received by radar antenna

• Including RCS, Doppler, delay, attenuation, and

propagation effects

• Fluctuating RCS types: Swirling 0, I, II, III, IV

• Echo: u(t – 2R0/c) exp(j2π(fc+fd)t) exp(-j4πfcR0 /c)

A k σ

– u(t): Tx signal

– R0: target distance

– v: target radial velocity

– c: speed of light

– fc: carrier frequency

– Doppler frequency fd : 2 v fc / c

– k: free space propagation

– σ: RCS fluctuation

– A: attenuation besides

free space propagation

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Multi-Scattering Targets Now Supported

• Earth effect

• Atmospheric loss

• More RCS types

• System_Loss

• Ground reflection

• Polarization

• Dielectric effection

• Trajectory

Multi-scatters

Supported

RADAR_TargetScatterLocation

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Advanced Radar Measurements Supported

− Basic measurements: waveform,

spectrum, and SNR.

− Advanced measurements: detection

probability, false alarm probability

− Parameter estimation for range, velocity,

acceleration

− Antenna pattern measurements

− 3D Plot in range Doppler plane Side View

Top View

3D Plot

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Using Template for Framework Setup for Whole Radar System

Pd=100%

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EW Rx

Radar3 Tx

Radar2 Tx

Radar4 Tx

Radar1 Tx

EW Challenge Issue – Generate EW received Signals

Radar Tx Station 1

Longtitude_r1

Latitude_r1

Hight_r1

EW Rx Station

Longtitude_ew

Latitude_ew

Hight_ew

Radar Tx Station 2

Longtitude_r2

Latitude_r2

Hight_r2

Radar Tx Station 3

Longtitude_r3

Latitude_r3

Hight_r3

Radar Tx Station 4

Longtitude_r4

Latitude_r4

Hight_r4

EW receiver input is • a combination of signals from different

Radar or communication transmission

stations

• Each signal component is with

complex information for the location

and speed of the stations, as well as

time waveforms and the frequency

bands of transmitted signals.

Generating EW

receiver test signal

for monitoring

multiple Radar and

Communication

Stations

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SystemVue EW Solution – EW Signals

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Radar Receiver Algorithm Design for Maritime Radar

Start from Airborne Template, modify parameters, change Rx array antenna

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Sigma

Delta

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Example: Stepped-Frequency Radar (SFR)

Challenges

• Higher resolution

• Lower cost

Two targets (range=10 meters)

Design Choices

1. Regular Pulse Radar

Resolution - Rs:

Assuming T = 0.25 us,

fo = 1/T,

Rs = C/(2*fo) = 37.5 m

If you want Rs = 0.58,

then T = 3.9 ns

2. Step Frequency Radar:

N = 64

With Freq Hopping,

Time Division

Rs= C/(2N*fo) = 0.58 m

Rs Higher

Cost relatively lower and

SCR Higher

Frequency

Time …… fo fo fo fo fo

Conventional Pulsed Doppler Radar

f 0 f 1 f 2

f N - 1

…… f N - 2

f 0 f 1 …… Δ f

Tp

τ

NT

Stepped- Frequency Radar Frequency

Time

SFR (2 detected)

Pulsed (1 failed detect)

x

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Example: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

SAR system simulation in X-band with 10-GHz center frequency, 24.13-MHz

bandwidth and 1.667-ms PRI.

RADAR_SAR_Echo

TargetInfo=(1x15) [0,0,2,0,-0.3,1,0,0.3…

EchoGenerate_Mode=Point_Target

HalfTargetAreaWidth=200M

Duration=1.5s [Duration]

PRF=600Hz [Fa]

Range_SamplingRate=30e+6Hz

Squint_Angle=0° [theta_sq_c]

Carrier_Frequency=10e+9Hz

LFM_Rate=4e+12 [Kr]

Pulse_Width=6.033e-6s [Tr]

Antenna_Aperture=1M [La]

Radar_Velocity=200 [Vr]

SlantRange_ZeroDopplerPlane=7500M

SAR_Mode=Stripmap

R1 {RADAR_SAR_Echo@RADAR Models}

SAR echo generator

Challenges • Higher resolution

• imaging

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Extending Design to Testing

SFR

PDR

LFM1

OFDM

LFM2

FSK EDGE SBPSK

Create EW System Test signals to emulate the Scenario

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Summary

− Designing and testing Radar/EW systems is challenging

− The SystemVue platform simplifies the design and test of Radar/EW systems, while

offering a number of key benefits, including: − Ability to generate complex waveforms for transmitters, receivers and EW system test

− Radar/EW environments including clutter, interference, and jamming/deception

− Provides advanced measurements for system performance evaluation

− Strong integration capability

− Allows customization and flexibility; easy-to-use

− SystemVue Templates for quick and easy modeling

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Questions?

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References

1. I. Skolnik, Radar Handbook, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1990.

2. D. Curtis Schleher, MTI and Pulse Doppler Radar, Artech House, Inc., 1991.

3. Dingqing Lu and Kong Yao "Importance Sampling Simulation Techniques

Applied to Estimating False Alarm Probabilities," Proc. IEEE ISCAS, 1989, pp.

598-601.

4. Dingqing Lu, “Quasi-Analytical Method For Estimating low False Alarm Rate,”

EuRAD2010, 16-2, Sept., 2010.

5. Dingqing Lu and Zhengrong Zhou, “Integrated Solutions for testing Wireless

Communication Systems,” accepted by IEEE Com Mag, 2011.

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Additional Resources

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SystemVue Radar Application Notes

1. Multi-Dimentional Signal Generation

2. Create Realistic Scenarios for Radar and EW Applications Application

3. Radar Signal Generation and Analysis

4. Overcoming the Challenges of Simulating Phased-Array Radar Systems

5. Radar EW Solution Summary

6. AGI STK Links to SystemVue for Flight Testing