Sense-Through-Obstruction Radar Micro-Doppler Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sense-through-obstruction radar systems face difficulties in detecting micro-Doppler signatures and movements through obstructions due to wave attenuation and noise, especially when dealing with slow-moving or vibrating objects, making it challenging to accurately identify human or animal life forms at stand-off ranges.
Innovation Solution
A standoff range sense-through-obstruction radar system is developed, comprising a high-gain antenna assembly with a horn antenna and reflector, aligned with a sensor assembly including a range finder and electro-optical camera, which assists in pointing the antenna towards obstructions and provides real-time video feed display of target information, enabling effective detection of micro-Doppler signatures and movements through obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the frequency of electromagnetic waves is decreased to reduce attenuation through obstructions, then wave penetration capability is improved, but the ability to measure micro-Doppler effects of human or animal life forms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing frequency modulation techniques to sweep through multiple frequency bands. This allows the system to capture micro-Doppler effects at higher frequencies while maintaining penetration capability at lower frequencies, effectively resolving the contradiction between attenuation reduction and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through pulsed radar operation with frequency sweeping. The radar transmits periodic pulses at different frequencies and processes the returned signals to extract micro-Doppler information, enabling detection of life forms through obstructions while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If radar operates at higher frequencies to improve micro-Doppler detection capability, then measurement precision is improved, but wave attenuation through obstructions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the operating frequency parameter based on the detection requirements. By sweeping through frequency bands and analyzing returns at multiple frequencies, the system optimizes the balance between penetration and detection precision for different target types and obstruction materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system is designed with multi-functionality to operate across a broad frequency spectrum. This universal design allows the same system to adapt to different scenarios requiring either penetration optimization or detection precision optimization, making it versatile for various through-obstruction detection applications.
3Reliability
If radar attempts to detect slow moving and vibrating objects, then detection capability is improved, but the difficulty of detecting small frequency shifts in the presence of stationary objects and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the detection process into multiple frequency bands and time segments. By analyzing micro-Doppler signatures across different frequency segments and comparing them, the system can isolate the weak signals from slow-moving objects against the background of stationary clutter and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the detected signals are processed and used to adjust subsequent detection parameters. The micro-Doppler extraction algorithms use feedback from the received signals to enhance the detection of small frequency shifts by adaptively filtering out stationary clutter and reducing noise impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the capability to detect moving and stationary micro-Doppler signatures at stand-off ranges, improving the accuracy of life-form detection and presentation of target information in a user-friendly format, suitable for military, police, security, and medical applications, while operating effectively beyond 20 meters with reduced noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
a horn antenna and a reflector configured to reflect radio frequency (RF) energy to/from the horn antenna
Implementation Method 2
When an object is moving at a constant velocity, the returned wave is shifted in frequency, which is called the Doppler Effect. The larger the velocity, the larger the frequency shift. When the object is moving towards the radar the frequency of the returned wave is increased. Conversely, when the object is moving away from the radar, the frequency of the returned wave is decreased.
Implementation Method 3
When the target is not moving but is vibrating the returned signal exhibits frequency sidebands called micro-Doppler
Implementation Method 4
Depending on the material, some portion of the electromagnetic waves penetrates through obstructions such as walls, but the amplitude of the waves is attenuated. For a given material, the lower the frequency of the wave, the less attenuation electromagnetic wave exhibits.
Data Source
AI summary
A standoff range, sense-through-obstruction radar system is capable of detecting micro-Doppler, or life form signatures, and movements through obstructions at stand-off ranges and displaying the target information over a live video feed of the area under surveillance. The sense-through-obstruction radar system comprises an antenna assembly that includes a horn antenna and a reflector configured to reflect radio frequency (RF) energy to/from the horn antenna. An antenna pointing assembly supports the antenna assembly. The antenna pointing assembly is configured to move the antenna assembly to point the antenna assembly toward an obstruction. A sensor assembly is mounted to the antenna assembly so that the sensor assembly is aligned with the RF beam formed from the RF energy reflected from the reflector to the horn antenna. The sensor assembly is configured to detect the location of the obstruction and to provide information to assist pointing of the antenna assembly toward the obstruction.