Fast image reconstruction for near-field terahertz imaging with multistatic non-uniform sparse arrays

Conference paper presented at Radar Sensor Technology XXVII, Orlando, FL, USA, 30 April - 5 May, 2023.In this paper, first, the structure of a linear sparse periodic array for two-dimensional scanning is described. Then, based on its characteristics, an algorithm is presented for fast image reconstruction of the scene in a near-field (NF) multistatic terahertz imaging scenario. Although the basis of this algorithm is developed in the Fourier domain, it is compatible with the non-uniform structure of the array and also takes into account the phase deviations caused by multistatic imaging in NF. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated with numerical data obtained from electromagnetic simulations in FEKO as well as experimental data. The results are discussed in terms of computational time on the central processing unit and graphics processing unit as well as the quality of the reconstructed image.Leverhulme Trust under Research Leadership Award RL-2019-019. The work of Shaoqing Hu is funded by Brunel University London under Research Development Fund LBG194 and 2022/2023 Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund 12455

Experimental Investigation of a Broadband High-Temperature Superconducting Terahertz Mixer Operating at Temperatures Between 40 and 77 K

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. This paper presents a systematic investigation of a broadband thin-film antenna-coupled high-temperature superconducting (HTS) terahertz (THz) harmonic mixer at relatively high operating temperature from 40 to 77 K. The mixer device chip was fabricated using the CSIRO established step-edge YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) Josephson junction technology, packaged in a well-designed module and cooled in a temperature adjustable cryocooler. Detailed experimental characterizations were carried out for the broadband HTS mixer at both the 200 and 600 GHz bands in harmonic mixing mode. The DC current-voltage characteristics (IVCs), bias current condition, local oscillator (LO) power requirement, frequency response, as well as conversion efficiency under different bath temperatures were thoroughly investigated for demonstrating the frequency down-conversion performance

A Short-Range FMCW Radar-Based Approach for Multi-Target Human-Vehicle Detection

In this article, a new microwave-radar-based technique for short-range detection and classification of multiple human and vehicle targets crossing a monitored area is proposed. This approach, which can find applications in both security and infrastructure surveillance, relies upon the processing of the scattered-field data acquired by low-cost off-The-shelf components, i.e., a 24 GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar module and a Raspberry Pi mini-PC. The developed method is based on an ad hoc processing chain to accomplish the automatic target recognition (ATR) task, which consists of blocks performing clutter and leakage removal with an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, clustering with a density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) approach, tracking using a Benedict-Bordner $alpha$-$eta$ filter, features extraction, and finally classification of targets by means of a $k$-nearest neighbor ( $k$-NN) algorithm. The approach is validated in real experimental scenarios, showing its capabilities in correctly detecting multiple targets belonging to different classes (i.e., pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and trucks)

Experimental low-THz imaging radar for automotive applications

This thesis reports initial experimental results that provide the foundation for low-THz radar imagery for outdoor scenarios as expected in automotive sensing. The requirements for a low-THz single imaging radar sensor are outlined. The imaging capability of frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar operating at 150 GHz is discussed. A comparison of experimental images of on-road and off- road scenarios made by a 150 GHz FMCW radar and a reference 30 GHz stepped frequency radar is made, and their performance is analysed

Experimental low-THz imaging radar for automotive applications

This thesis reports initial experimental results that provide the foundation for low-THz radar imagery for outdoor scenarios as expected in automotive sensing. The requirements for a low-THz single imaging radar sensor are outlined. The imaging capability of frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar operating at 150 GHz is discussed. A comparison of experimental images of on-road and off- road scenarios made by a 150 GHz FMCW radar and a reference 30 GHz stepped frequency radar is made, and their performance is analysed

Development of a Cost-Efficient Multi-Target Classification System Based on FMCW Radar for Security Gate Monitoring

Radar systems have a long history. Like many other great inventions, the origin of radar systems lies in warfare. Only in the last decade, radar systems have found widespread civil use in industrial measurement scenarios and automotive safety applications. Due to their resilience against harsh environments, they are used instead of or in addition to optical or ultrasonic systems. Radar sensors hold excellent capabilities to estimate distance and motion accurately, penetrate non-metallic objects, and remain unaffected by weather conditions. These capabilities make these devices extremely flexible in their applications. Electromagnetic waves centered at frequencies around 24 GHz offer high precision target measurements, compact antenna, and circuitry design, and lower atmospheric absorption than higher frequency-based systems. This thesis studies non-cooperative automatic radar multi-target detection and classification. A prototype of a radar system with a new microwave-radar-based technique for short-range detection and classification of multiple human and vehicle targets passing through a road gate is presented. It allows identifying different types of targets, i.e., pedestrians, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. The developed system is based on a low-cost 24 GHz off-the-shelf FMCW radar, combined with an embedded Raspberry Pi PC for data acquisition and transmission to a remote processing PC, which takes care of detection and classification. This approach, which can find applications in both security and infrastructure surveillance, relies upon the processing of the scattered-field data acquired by the radar. The developed method is based on an ad-hoc processing chain to accomplish the automatic target recognition task, which consists of blocks performing clutter and leakage removal with a frame subtraction technique, clustering with a DBSCAN approach, tracking algorithm based on the \u3b1-\u3b2 filter to follow the targets during traversal, features extraction, and finally classification of targets with a classification scheme based on support vector machines. The approach is validated in real experimental scenarios, showing its capabilities incorrectly detecting multiple targets belonging to different classes (i.e., pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and trucks). The approach has been validated with experimental data acquired in different scenarios, showing good identification capabilities

New considerations and approaches to the detection of overhead cables by radar

This thesis reports on research into the electromagnetic backscatter from overhead power cables as this method of distributing electrical power is hazardous to aircraft flying at low-altitudes especially during periods of low visibility. The work presented intends to improve current overhead cable detection techniques by using high-resolution millimetre-wave devices which will also allow compact devices that can be practical on a variety of airborne platforms such as manned aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. The research also presents cable measurements obtained by airborne radar devices that operate at lower frequency bands, Ka-band and Ku-band, which were able to identify power line vulnerabilities due to a change in cable tautness along a power line. A modern, more efficient, overhead power cable type ACCC (Aluminium Conductor Composite Core) is also discussed and the effect of the less prominent surface structure of this cable type, relative to the most commonly used type of overhead power cable ACSR (Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced), on the backscattered radar signature is compared using both modelled and measured results for both cable types. The scattering model and measurements presented in this research are the first ever quantitative results reported for the ACCC type of cable