Through-Wall Sensing (TWS) Technologies for Dismounted Infantry

Time Domain (TDC) will adapt our man-portable, hand-held, radar that detects stationary persons through walls for non-stabilized operation. With this device, soldiers in urban environments can quickly, safely and confidently assess building occupancy and maintain a tactical advantage. TDC’s SoldierVision® (SV) Sense Through The Wall (STTW) Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Radar product is designed for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) to see human motion through walls. The radar performs well when braced against walls to eliminate platform motion, but this limits operational flexibility, particularly in combat. When stabilized, the SV radar can display the subtle motions associated with stationary person’s respiration. Under the proposed effort, TDC will improve SV to achieve both functions simultaneously. In Phase I, three approaches for motion compensation were investigated: adding motion sensors to quantify operator-induced motion for subsequent compensation, using radar returns for self-compensation, and bypassing motion issues by directly detecting breathing. In Phase II TDC will develop a motion compensation solution for the SoldierVision product. Motion sensing hardware will provide data for compensation algorithms. The solution will be implemented on the SV to produce a prototype unit for evaluation. Through thorough testing the performance improvements will be completely characterized and quantified.