A Practical Incoherent Scatter Radar

ABSTRACT:To produce a Practical Incoherent Scattering Radar (PISR) the use of emerging digital and radar technologies are analyzed. The digital technologies include digital transceiver on a chip and system on a chip devices, graphical processing units the VITA 49 standard for the transport of digitized radio frequency signals. The radar technologies include antenna architectures, processing techniques such as MIMO radar and multistatic radar and large array calibration techniques. A trade study is performed to determine the best modular architecture, a preliminary system design is developed, initial risk reduction testing performed on key components and a program plan recommended for continued PISR development. The team has the ability to architect, design, model, develop, test, prototype, analyze, manufacture, train and provide lifecycle support for the entire PISR system. The results have many commercial applications including military, civilian and commercial (e.g. marine navigation) radar systems.BENEFIT:In addition to practical incoherent scattering radar systems, the results of the hardware and software architectures and designs undertaken are applicable to a wide range of radar systems. The results will indicate if state of the art devices intended for commercial applications can also be used for radar and what the performance limitations may be.