Digital Signal Processing in Radar Altimeters

Current radar altimeters in cluster munitions use an FMCW approach which requires expensive touch labor on the antenna to get the proper isolation and expensive multi-chip modules for processing the received energy. Mustang Technology Group will perform a cost and performance trade study of the current approach versus using DSPs in the FMCW approach and using a pulsed radar implementing various modulation techniques. The results of the trade study will reveal the most cost effective solution and the remainder of the research will include a detailed preliminary design of a radar altimeter implementing the best solution as well as a simulation to predict the low-cost altimeter performance.