Low-Cost, Low-Power Radar For Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The team of GE and MMCOMM with support from UCLA and potentially the U of F will develop a demonstration model of the low-cost, low-power radar (LCLPR) and integrate it on a small UAV. The demonstration model radar will be based on the Lightweight MMW UAV SAR / MTI Radar (LUAVR) system currently being developed for CECOM on an SBIR Phase II+ contract with an expected completion date of 1 Dec 05. LCLPR will be a reduced weight version of the LUAVR. The main innovation will be the replacement of the mechanically scanned antenna with a patch antenna that will be pasted on the side of the small UAV (SUAV). The SUAV will be rotated to scan the beam. LCLPR will be designed to a target weight of 1-lb. The Phase II demo model will weight less than 2-lbs. It will feature advanced and innovative MMW technology. Advanced direct digital synthesis (DDS) waveform generation, advanced digital down conversion (DDC) using FPGA and advanced signal processing will be incorporated. The system will exhibit low power and is designed to very low cost. The radar will feature MTI and SAR modes and have a maximum range to 3 Km. A combination of motion measurement sensor (MMS) and signal based mocomp will be incorporated to insure good image quality. A small UAV partner will be selected from three finalists: Aerovironment, U of F and a commercial hobby craft. The radar will be installed in the SUAV and preliminary flite tests performed.