A Doppler Range Compensation for Step-Frequency Continuous-Wave Radar for Detecting Small UAV

• Main Authors: Massimiliano Pieraccini, Lapo Miccinesi, Neda Rojhani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: continuous wave; Doppler; radar; UAV detection
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/6/1331

Step-frequency continuous-wave (SFCW) modulation can have a role in the detection of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) at short range (less than 1–2 km). In this paper, the theory of SFCW range detection is reviewed, and a specific method for correcting the possible range shift due to the Doppler effect is devised. The proposed method was tested in a controlled experimental set-up, where a free-falling target (i.e., a corner reflector) was correctly detected by an SFCW radar. This method was finally applied in field for short-range detection of a small UAV.