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In the past, most radar-cross-section imaging has been done after data has been taken. At best, this off-line processing generates images that are returned to a customer the next day. Many projects can benefit significantly by having concurrent imaging and data acquisition. This allows for real-time cause and effect type diagnostics without rescheduling range time. As RCS range time becomes increasingly more expensive and difficult to schedule, real-time imaging provides the project engineer with a valuable tool to optimally use his range time. A technique has been developed to render real-time radar cross section images while acquiring data. All image processing is performed to achieve a fully enhanced image. Focussing, interpolation, and windowing are all used to give a detailed image. The system uses a Hewlett Packard 8510B for data taking and Hewlett Packard computers for data acquisition and image processing.
RCS instrumentation systems capable of combining wide-band and ISAR techniques to obtain two-dimensional images are widely used to perform RCS diagnostic and measurement functions. Objects involving rotating structures, such as blades of propulsion systems complicate the diagnostic task. The paper address the utilization of diagnostic RCS systems to meaningfully determine the radar signatures of objects with rotating components and presents results obtained from a generic data set, typically available from wide-band RCS instrumentation systems. The results provide valuable insight to the signature of objects with rotating components.
Signal processing techniques may be used in radar signature analysis to obtain radar target impulse response. In general there is a one to one relationship between specific scattering mechanisms and the time such mechanisms appear in the impulse response. One of the difficulties of this type of analysis is that complex targets often have multiple interactions. Many of these multiple interaction mechanisms can be identified as such by the application of the bispectrum to the radar scattering data. Also, the bispectrum forms a basis for discriminating between targets. Classification of unknown radar targets based on their bispectral response is performed in this study.
This paper examines the primary differences between gated-c.w. and pulsed-i.f. instrumentation radar systems. Following a brief explanation of the fundamental theory behind each radar type, a performance trade study is presented. The impact of i.f. bandwidth on the operation and performance of the radar is presented by first briefly describing the major similarities and differences between the two radar types and the resulting impacts on performance. Differences in the gate performance, sensitivity, dynamic range, speed, and accuracy are summarized. To show the performance advantages and shortfalls of each radar type, benchmark test scenarios are presented. The resulting summary can be used as a guide in determining the optimal radar type for a specific range geometry and measurement requirement.
Precise and complete measurements of advanced electromagnetic systems demand dramatically higher data acquisition speeds than those commonly attainable. Specific challenges include requirements for wideband measurements with arbitrarily spaced frequency steps. These types of measurements are often encountered in characterizing EW/ECM systems, radars, communications systems, and in performing antenna and RCS measurements. The Scientific-Atlanta Model 1795 Microwave Receiver offers capabilities directly applicable to solving measurement problems posed by highly frequency agile systems. These problems include: 1) timing constraints 2) data throughput 3) RF interfacing 4) maintaining high accuracy A technique is discussed which shows the application of the Model 1795 Microwave Receiver in its high frequency agility mode of operation. Measurement examples are presented showing the advantages gained compared to previous methods and instrumentation configurations.
The MUSIC (Multiple Signal Characterization) algorithm uses an eigenvector decomposition of measured data to classify signals in the presence of noise. It has been used for the angular classification of multiple radar signal emitters and ISAR imaging. Interest has grown in stray signal analysis in anechoic chambers. This paper will discuss the modification and use of the MUSIC algorithm for the decomposition of field probe data to angular spectrum. A brief discussion of the MUSIC algorithm theory will be presented. Modifications required for use in compact range angular spectrum analysis will be discussed in detail. Requirements on field probe measurements will be presented as well as their effects on the implementation of the algorithm. Both one way and two way measurements are considered for their relationship to the array manifold. Finally, some experimental validation generated on the Boeing range will be presented.
In this paper the initial construction and validation phase for a new elevated outdoor antenna range is described. The facility is designed to provide excellent pattern, gain and reflection measurements in the 20 MHz to 40 GHz frequency range for apertures and arrays up to D = 16 feet in length. Shown in detail is a physical description of the facility and equipment, an error budget and the results of field probing and antenna measurements. A discussion of the results shows a facility capable of antenna measurements at S/N levels of 60 dB providing a dynamic range of over 40 dB with error levels less than plus-or-minus 0.44 dB. Throughout the discussion, special attention is given to the full automation of the range in Phase 2 and its possible use for radar cross section measurements.
The Vulnerability Assessment Laboratory (VAL) anechoic chamber at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico was reconfigured and refurbished during the last part of 1988. This paper will be a facility description of the state-of-the-art Special Electromagnetic Interference (SEMI) investigation facility. Electromagnetic susceptibility and vulnerability investigations of US and, in some cases, foreign weapon systems are conducted by the EW experts in the Technology and Advanced Concepts (TAC) Division of VAL. EMI investigations have recently been completed on both the UH-50A BLACKHAWK and AH-64A Apache helicopters in the chamber. The paper will cover the facility's three anechoic chambers, shielded RF instrumentation bay, computer facilities for EM coupling analyses, and the myriad of antenna, antenna pattern measurement, amplifier, electronic, and support instrumentation equipment for the chambers. A radar cross section measurement and an off-line RCS data processing station are also included in the facility.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the accuracy requirement of a generic measurement system for in-flight antenna pattern evaluations. Elements of the measurement technique will be described. An attempt is made to distinguish the measurement requirement for a narrow beam radar antenna in contrast to that for broad beam communication antennas. Major elements of the measurement technique discussed include the flight path geometry, the multipath propagation problem, and the measurement errors. Instrumentation requirements consist of the ground segment, the receive and the tracking subsystems, and the airborne equipment, the radar components and the navigation and attitude sensors. Considering the in-flight antenna pattern testing as a generalized antenna range measurement problem, various sources of measurement errors are identified. An error budget assumption is made on each error component to estimate the overall expected accuracy of the in-flight antenna pattern measurement.
Under many circumstances it is necessary to experimentally estimate the radar cross section of targets in a cluttered environment. A significant reduction in the clutter can be obtained when cross range filtering can be done. In this experimental RC measurement concept, scattering measurements are performed using a moving radar antenna. Thus scattering as a function of target plus clutter versus aspect angle in the near field can be measured. Next, a back projection algorithm can be used to estimate the scattering as a function of position in the neighborhood of the target. The known range to which the signal is to be focussed is used to project back to the target area. An estimate of the RCS at points along a line in the plane of the target is computed. The clutter responses can then be removed from the data, and the remaining target-only values projected forward again (possibly to the far field) to estimate the RCS of the target alone.
In the theory of inverse synthetic aperture imaging of radar targets the measuring distance is ordinarily supposed to be very much larger than the dimensions of the target. If this is not the case errors are introduced. We study these errors and means to decrease their influence by computation. The result is that the maximum tolerable target dimension can be substantially increased in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation if error correction is used.
The Synthetic Aperture Radar Antenna for the European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-1 is a 10 by 1 metre deployable slotted waveguide array operating at 5.3 GHz. Electrical performance of the complete antenna is derived at the end of the environmental test programme from near field measurements on a planar NF scanner. In order to obtain very early information on electrical integrity of the flight model antenna, suitable for pre- and post-environmental comparison, a fast electrical functional test was implemented in the total test sequence. It basically consists of a 2D slot probing of a well distributed number of slots in combination with complex input impedance measurements. The paper describes the method and presents results of different test steps. The data of pre-/post-environmental measurements are compared.
In the past, models suspended indoors for radar cross-section measurements have weighed up to several hundred pounds, suspended on the order of 20' or less from the ground, and measured statically or rotated for great circle cuts. Under these circumstances it has been acceptable to choose the best string configuration from a signature point of view and simply wait for the model to reach a visually calm state before testing. However, indoor ranges are now requiring suspension of models weighing several thousand pounds 40' or more above the floor. In addition, the demand for imaging data during model conics requires both precise dynamic control and model stability. This work discusses techniques developed at Boeing's 9-77 Range in Seattle, to achieve model stability during suspension and manipulation. In addition, techniques to determine spring and damping constants of suspension systems for individual models are addressed.
Dielectric straps can support very heavy targets and have a low radar cross section (RCS), especially at low frequencies (below 8 GHz). In this paper, the scattered fields of dielectric straps surrounding a perfectly conducting structure are presented, and the computed results are compared with experimental data. Empirical formulas for the strap scattered fields are also given. These formulas are good for general convex structures and are expected to give a reasonable estimate of the true RCS of the dielectric straps when used as a target support structure.
A stressed-skin inflatable target support provides an improvement over a foam column for radar cross section (RCS) measurements in an anechoic chamber. Theoretical analysis indicates that backscatter from the support is minimized because its mass is reduced below that of a foam column and is distributed to favor incoherent scattering. Compared with a foam column, a pressurized thin shell has superior mechanical stability under both axial and transverse loads. Experimental observations using Mylar -- a low dielectric constant, high tensile strength film -- confirm these results. Spurious reflections from rotational machinery located below an inflatable column are reduced by a layer of absorber within the base of the inflatable support.
Many targets today exhibit radar cross sections sensitive to the angular orientation of the target. While some of these targets have prominent scattering centers which can be exploited to obtain a relative positional reference, many targets unfortunately do not. In addition, many complex targets have a highly directional scattering behavior requiring careful alignment to the incident planar field. This need for accurate positioning has prompted the development of laser alignment techniques for the compact range. One such system has been under development at the ElectroScience Laboratory, and the designs and results of the first prototype are presented here. Performance goals and design criteria are discussed, and future improvements are considered. In addition, similar systems for feed and pedestal location reference systems are presented.
The requirement to measure lower radar cross-section (RCS) levels within anechoic chambers has demonstrated the need to further analyze the performance of microwave absorbers. The interactions of the feed system, compact range reflector, target mount, and target/test body with the microwave absorber greatly effect both the measurement accuracy and ambient noise level within the anechoic chamber. Better absorber characterization and understanding leads to improved chamber performance analysis and chamber design modeling. Past absorber studies have evaluated the backscatter performance of most absorber types, however, bistatic performance characterizations have been limited. This paper will discuss a method of obtaining bistatic absorber data which offers the advantages of time gating and synthetic aperture imaging to improve measurement isolation and accuracy. The approach involves illuminating a large absorber test wall about several incidence angles with the plane wave generated by a compact range. A receive antenna is then moved about the test wall and bistatic scattering is observed. The technique provides improved measurement results over methods utilizing NRL arch type systems. Bistatic absorber data has been collected and analyzed over angles from normal to near grazing incidence. Test results will be demonstrated with different absorber shapes, sizes, orientations, and material transitions from wedge to pyramidal. Various bistatic conditions will be analyzed for both polarizations over a number of frequencies.
Evaluation methods for analyzing the performance of anechoic chambers have typically been limited to field probing, free space VSWR and pattern comparison techniques. These methods usually allow the users of such chambers to qualify or determine the amount of measurement accuracy achievable for a given test configuration. However, these methods in general do not allow the user to easily identify the reasons for limited or degraded performance. This paper presents a method based on synthetic aperture imagery which has been found usable for finding and identifying anechoic chamber performance problems. Photographs and illustrations of a working SAR imaging/mapping system are shown. Discussions are also given regarding the method's advantages and disadvantages, system requirements and limitations, focusing processing requirements, calibration techniques, and hardware setups. Both monostatic and bistatic configurations are considered and both RCS and antenna applications are discussed. The SAR system constructed to date makes use of a portable HP-8510 based radar placed on a hydraulic manlift for easy system maneuverability and flexibility. The radar antenna is mounted on an 8 foot mechanical scanner directed toward the area to be mapped. An image is processed after each scan of the receive antenna. Measured data and example results obtained using the mapping system are presented which demonstrate the system's capabilities.
Circularly polarized radar cross-section (RCS) measurements place stringent requirements on an RCS range. Indoor compact ranges without the problems of ground reflections have the potential of making accurate circular polarization (CP) measurements. A simple method for CP RCS measurements is described using broadband meander-line polarizers over the compact range feed horns. Axial ratio and differential phase measurements were performed to evaluate the polarizer fabrication accuracy. Basic scattering shapes were measured to test the performance of the CP measurement system. Comparison of CP measurements with analytical predictions demonstrated the success and limitations of the technique.
An automated instrumentation system has been configured for the purpose of evaluating advanced composites, radar absorbing materials, and frequency selective surfaces (FSS) in free space. Electrical test frequencies are divided into three bands that range from 18 to 60 GHz for any linear polarization. Software has been incorporated to calculate dielectric properties from the measured transmission and reflection characteristics. Using the HP9836 computer, software was written to automate and integrate the Anorad 3253 positioner with the HP8510 network analyzer. This system allows for the input of up to five incident angles at vertical, horizontal, and cross polarization. The measured transmission loss (amplitude and phase) at multiple incident angles is then plotted for comparison. This paper gives a complete description of the system configuration, calibration techniques, and samples of output data. Material properties are computed and compared to specified and theoretical values. Measured results of an FSS structure are compared to its predicted response.