DBF and SAR Imaging Radar for Academic Lab Courses and Research

In this paper a radar system with data acquisition and a standard processing method for digital beamforming is presented which has been developed for lab courses in RF technology at the university. Students are introduced into the topics radar RF technology, data acquisition and signal processing for digital beamforming (DBF) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) by monitoring cars in a parking lot. The whole radar system itself is not closed hence all antennas and connections are identifiable. The radar is connected via a National Instruments DAQ System to a PC. By means of the numerical software MATLAB the students develop the control and data processing software by themselves. Final results can be observed in a vivid graphical output. The used radar RF system is a prototype designed and assembled by the university group. The radar operates as a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar in the 24 GHz ISM band.