Airborne Target Tracking via Vertical Antenna Phase Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar systems for tracking airborne targets are often prohibitively expensive, necessitating the development of low-cost methods and systems for detection and tracking.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the synthesis of a cyclic transmit signal, transmission of an electromagnetic beam, reception with vertically offset antennas, down-conversion of return signals to baseband, and extraction of magnitude and phase information to determine elevation and azimuthal location of airborne targets, with the system capable of being implemented as a computer program product for processing and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional radar systems are used for tracking airborne targets, then tracking capability is achieved, but system cost becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the radar function into separate transmit and receive paths with vertically offset receive antennas, allowing independent optimization of each path and reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system uses a shared transmit antenna and signal processing infrastructure for both elevation and azimuth tracking functions, reducing redundant components and lowering system cost while maintaining full tracking capability
2Measurement precision
If vertically offset receive antennas are used, then elevation information can be determined, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical 3D antenna structures with a simpler vertical offset configuration combined with signal processing, achieving elevation measurement through phase comparison rather than mechanical scanning or complex array geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces phase comparison as an intermediary measurement method that translates the physical phase difference from vertically offset antennas into elevation angle information, simplifying the relationship between antenna geometry and measurement output
3Measurement precision
If phase comparison method is used for elevation determination, then measurement accuracy is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the measurement parameter from direct amplitude comparison to phase difference measurement, which provides more precise elevation determination through the relationship between phase shift and path length difference in the vertical antenna configuration
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
Enables accurate and cost-effective detection and tracking of airborne targets by determining their location and classifying potential threats, while being adaptable to various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a transmit antenna is provided and a return signal from an airborne target is received
Implementation Method 2
down-converting a high frequency return signal to a baseband signal
Implementation Method 3
An interferometric processing technique is used to determine an elevation of the airborne target
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining location information for an airborne target includes synthesizing a cyclic transmit signal, transmitting an electromagnetic beam corresponding to the cyclic transmit signal, providing a plurality of vertically offset return signals corresponding to at least two receive antennas that are vertically offset, down-converting the plurality of vertically offset return signals with the cyclic transmit signal to provide a corresponding plurality of baseband signals, determining magnitude and phase information for each vertically offset return signal as a function of range from the corresponding baseband signal, and determining elevation information for an airborne target from the magnitude and phase information. Azimuthal information for the airborne target may be determined by tracking amplitude variations in the return signal in response to azimuthal rotation of the receive antennas. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are also disclosed herein.