Micro airborne target observation radar from unmanned surface vehicles

Agile RF Systems in partnership with the University of Oklahoma (OU) propose to continue development of the new impulse radar (IR) in this Phase II project using an innovative radar chipset and a low-cost, active sector array antenna solution. During the Phase I project, we successfully demonstrated that the operation range extension and small target detections over water can be achieved using appropriate radar sampling control, RF front-end optimization, and a novel UWB array antenna design. We also demonstrated the feasibility of clutter mitigation and multi-sensor triangulation method through system simulations. The Phase II project will achieve TRL 6 for the scalable single target tracking (IR-STT) radar sensor by testing in a relevant open water environment. The benefits are (1) Spectrum efficiency and counter-interference capability, (2) Low-probability of intercept (LPI), covert and secure operation, (3) Low-cost and low Size, Weight and Power, and (4) Capability of rapid electronic antenna scanning. We will continue to use basic USV platforms at OU for experiments and will collaborate closely with Liquid Robotics as our key transfer partner during Phase II R&D, and work toward the goal of integrating the radar sensor to the USV system product and commercializing the novel radar sensor and target localization solution in military and civilian applications.