High Resolution Sea Surface Mapping Radar System

This Phase 2 SBIR addresses the development of a rapid scanning radar interferometer designed to map ocean surface topography from an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The X-band Wave Contour Sensor (X-WACS) will provide real time display of wave height and slope and will provide input data to future adaptive vessel control systems to pilot manned or unmanned vessels in high seas. Using interferometric radar processing, X-WACS can extract surface topography with meter-scale resolution to ranges of several hundred meters. The RF unit, mounted on a mast above the deck of the USV, encloses a solid state radar and a rotating pair of fan beam antennas to provide 360-degree coverage. Data from the antenna pair is sampled with a digital receiver then processed in real time on a standard computer. Following system construction, X-WACS will be deployed on a pier for comparison with in-situ wave gauges, and to evaluate motion compensation algorithms. This experiment will be followed by deployment on a small fishing vessel, where the system will be tested under varying sea conditions.