Welcome to the AMTA paper archive. Select a category, publication date or search by author.
(Note: Papers will always be listed by categories. To see ALL of the papers meeting your search criteria select the "AMTA Paper Archive" category after performing your search.)
The models governing ground-bounce illumination have been well-understood for decades. Previous ref-erenced work examined the application of these mod-els to three-dimensional geometries and showed that illumination variation is a spatially-dependent func-tion of frequency which requires knowledge of the target geometry and scattering characteristics in order to evaluate uncertainty. This paper leverages that work and further develops a Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) method to extract frequency do-main scattering characteristics from target data di-rectly. By utilizing at least two antenna heights in two separate measurements, ground-bounce geometries allow for useful target feature characterization. This enables an assessment of spatial target uncertainty in the image domain as well as for RCS; it further shows promise for illumination error mitigation. This paper demonstrates this potential in simulation to support measurements collected at the National RCS Test Fa-cility (NRTF), Holloman AFB NM.
This paper reports the recent investigation of data-link strings as supporting structures for antennas used in a bistatic radar cross section (RCS) measurement system. Although several candidate strings exist, analysis of the strings’ scattering contribution needs a generic string model to make comprehensive comparisons. A simple theoretical two-dimensional (2D) dielectric coated cylindrical wire model is initially utilized to predict and compare scattering characteristics of various data-link string structures. In addition to the simple model, a non-destructive measurement method is proposed for extracting the material properties of the string material. Using the analytic 2D model of a dielectric clad wire as the generic string model, the unknown permittivity is computed from reflectivity measurements taken with a focused beam system. Extracted permittivity values are then used in a full-wave electromagnetic solver to validate the model. Measured and simulated results are shown to have excellent agreement for the 2D RCS, radar echo width, of different strings and polarization configurations.
In dynamic RCS measurements, uncompensated motion induces artifacts and distortions, from moderate to severe, into any Fourier-based analysis. A quadratic term in the kernel of the underlying spectra (length L) will stretch the spectra into one of L2 configurations. Whether radial velocity for stepped-chirp HRR measurements, or acceleration for fixed-frequency Doppler measurements, spectra often become buried in noise – the quadratic term spreading the bandwidth. Even an approximation to the quadratic term in the spectral kernel allows a variety of signal processing techniques to further refine and remove residual uncompensated motion within the stepped-chirp or Doppler vector. This paper presents blind and semi-blind techniques making use of Fourier-based processing, entropy calculation, and bandlimited resampling to compensate for motion. Doing so restores the SNR available to the individual underlying spectra.
In this paper, we consider the dynamic RCS signature measurement challenges for target signals in clutter. A clutter rejection technique is presented that relies on target motion to isolate target returns from clutter. While some clutter rejection techniques rely on generating a background map, this technique does not require measurement of background clutter. Therefore, it is particularly useful for scenarios where background data are not available or background clutter cannot be measured independent of the target. This clutter mitigation technique utilizes Range-Doppler processing over a coherent processing interval incorporating a one-pole or two-pole filter to minimize processing delays. Data from a “Moving Target Simulator” demonstrates that without clutter rejection, targets are completely buried in clutter and accurate RCS measurements are impossible. Implementing the clutter rejection filter allows target trajectories to be clearly identified, further enabling target range gating and accurate RCS measurements.
As antennas become more complex, their test requirements are also becoming more complex, requiring more data to fully evaluate the performance of today’s modern antennas. At the same time, competition and time-to-market concerns are driving the need to reduce the cost of test. This places stringent demands on our test facilities, personnel, and resources. To be competitive, new and creative ways are needed to meet these new demands. Fortunately, technology is changing, and these advances in technology if properly applied, can provide a way to reduce total test times and increase the productivity of test ranges. This paper will look at this new technology and examine how it can be applied to antenna measurements to significantly reduce measurement times. This paper will describe new technology features applicable to antenna/RCS measurements, configuration diagrams, typical antenna/RCS measurement scenarios, and measurement time comparisons for the different measurement scenarios. This will allow antenna test professionals to determine the measurement time reductions and productivity gains that can be achieved for their specific measurement ranges and test scenarios.
As antennas become more complex, their test requirements are also becoming more complex, requiring more data to fully evaluate the performance of today’s modern antennas. At the same time, competition and time-to-market concerns are driving the need to reduce the cost of test. This places stringent demands on our test facilities, personnel, and resources. To be competitive, new and creative ways are needed to meet these new demands. Fortunately, technology is changing, and these advances in technology if properly applied, can provide a way to reduce total test times and increase the productivity of test ranges. This paper will look at this new technology and examine how it can be applied to antenna measurements to significantly reduce measurement times. This paper will describe new technology features applicable to antenna/RCS measurements, configuration diagrams, typical antenna/RCS measurement scenarios, and measurement time comparisons for the different measurement scenarios. This will allow antenna test professionals to determine the measurement time reductions and productivity gains that can be achieved for their specific measurement ranges and test scenarios.
RCS measurements of two larger squat cylinders (with dia. 18” and 15”) have been studied. Numerical extrapolation from the best available MoM-simulation is used to generate the finer oscillations (< 0.1 dB) in RCS-PO at higher frequencies. Though the uncertainties at 0.4 dB would obscure the opportunity for a comparison at this time, a smoothly silver-painted surface did yield error bars at 0.2 dB for the Ku-band.
A compact antenna test range has been analysed for stray signals. The analysis is based on GTD ray trac-ing, i.e. obeying the reflection law in the chamber walls and assuming straight edges of reflectors and walls. Comparisons to an RCS as well as a time-domain measurement of the quiet-zone performance show good agreements with respect to identification of the ray paths of the stray signals. Rough estimates of the power loss at reflections and diffractions show acceptable agreements with the measured levels.
In the Flight Model (FM) of the PLANCK telescope, the feed horns are connected to either HEMTs or bolometers operating at cryogenic temperatures to detect the Cosmic Microwave Background radiometric signal. For the purpose of an overall alignment verification at ambient temperature, RCS measurements have been performed using an auxiliary feed horn that is terminated with a switching diode. This verification test has been conducted at 320 GHz, to benefit from the narrow beam and a high sensitivity to misalignment. To perform the RCS measurements, an additional “circulator” with low propagation loss and high isolation from transmit to return channel had to be developed. Besides that, the circulator also co-locates the phase centres of both Tx and Rx range antennas on the focal point of the CATR, which allows mono-static RCS measurements. Quasi-optical techniques have been used to design a circulator that meets these requirements. To test the feasibility of determining the feed location from the RCS measurements with an uncertainty of ±1 mm, a test campaign was conducted with the so called RF Qualification Model (RFQM). In this campaign, 9 feed locations with 1 mm separation were tested. With the Flight Model, the test was on the critical path of the planning and only one test could be conducted to verify the overall alignment.
We used a set of dihedrals to perform polarimetric calibrations on an indoor RCS measurement range. We obtain simultaneously hh, hv, vh, and vv polarimetric data as the calibration dihedrals rotate about the line-of-sight to the radar. We applied Fourier analysis to the data to determine the polarimetric system parameters, which are expected to be very small. We also obtained polarimetric measurements on two cylinders to verify the accuracy of the system parameters. We developed simple criteria to assess the data consistency over the very large dynamic range demanded by the dihedrals. We examined data contamination by system drift, dynamic range nonlinearities, and the presence of background and noise. We propose improved measurement procedures to enhance consistency between the dihedral and cylinder measurements and to minimize the uncertainty in the polarimetric system parameters. The final recommened procedure can be used to calibrate polarimetrically both indoor and outdoor ranges.
At the present time at the end of a measurement of RCS of a target, it is possible to obtain either the value of the RCS of the target as a whole for a given frequency, bearing and elevation or a RADAR image of this target. The aim of this RADAR image is generally to locate the bright points that constitute the target and not to estimate the energy of these bright points. That is why the calculation of these energies is not generally the subject of an elaborate rigorous processing. Yet it may be necessary to be able to give the RCS of any part of the target when this target has been measured as a whole. In answer to this need it is necessary to isolate and calculate sharply the energies of the bright points that constitute the target, because the RCS of each part of the target is the sum of the energies of the bright points which constitute it. This article exposes a method of processing which allows this calculation, while resolving the problems linked to the interpolation and to the discrete nature of the measurements and calculations.
Phased arrays antennas have desirable features in terms of simplicity, compact dimensions and low weight for low frequency applications requiring dual polarization and medium gain such as RCS measurements. However, a fundamental problem with phased arrays technology in wide band applications is grating lobe limitations due to the grid topology of the phased array elements. The spacing of the array elements cannot be to close in order to limit element coupling and not to large to avoid grating lobes. Consequently, conventional phase array antenna applications are generally limited to a useable frequency bandwidth of 1:2. A unique grid topology has recently been developed to overcome this problem [1, 2]. By interleaving three separate phased arrays, each dedicated to a different subband with close to 1:2 bandwidth, the useable bandwidth of the combined phased array antenna can be extended to as much as 1:7 while maintaining the nice performance features of the basic phase array technology. Based on this technology a large dual polarized phase array antenna has been designed for indoor RCS testing in the frequency range from 140MHz to 1000MHz. The operational bandwidth of the array is split into three subbands: 140-260 MHz, 260-520 MHz and 520-1000 MHz. The array is 6.34 x 6m and weighs less than 250Kg. Due to the element spacing and topology the phased array is sensitive to excitation errors so the beam forming network (BFN) feeding the elements must be wellbalanced. A uniform amplitude and phase distribution for the array excitation coefficients has been selected to simplify the BFN design and minimize possible excitation errors throughout the bandwidth. This paper describe the antenna electrical design and performance trade-off activity, the manufacturing details and discuss the comprehensive validation/testing activity prior to delivery to the final customer.
This paper describes or deals with a quality analysis and comparison of three radar reflectivity information or data types. The information or data types include radar cross section (RCS) as defined by IEEE Standard 100, the bowtie sector average, and the gross estimate radar return (commonly known as the fuzzball). The paper discusses the uncertainty analysis of measured RCS, and the paper provides analysis on the uncertainty of bowtie sector averages and “fuzzballs” (gross estimate radar returns). The comparison of the information or data types, their quality, uncertainties, and usefulness represents a significant part and focus of the study.
Practical ISAR measurements must often be made in the near-field. Scatterers are illuminated by a spherical wavefront, generating a continuum of incident angles due to parallax. Ignoring this, radar image processing produces geometrically distorted images whose utility diminishes the more deeply into the near-field the measurements are made. The underlying assumption that a target may be accurately modeled as a collection of isotropic point scatterers can enormously widen in angle. Yet, by considering parallax (with attention to phase), near-field measurements can produce quasi-far-field images, whose Fourier transform bears a greater likeness to a far-field RCS signature. A technique is presented and explored whereby each image pixel is focused at angles normal to the incident spherical wavefront by compensating for parallax. The focused coordinates are spatially variant, but for a pixel exactly containing a point scatterer, the resulting focused IQ pairs are identical with those in the far-field.
A large single reflector corner fed rolled edge compact range system, featuring an elliptical cylinder 12’ (H) x 16’ (W) x 16’ (L) quiet zone has been recently installed in a large anechoic chamber [1]. The Compact Range System parameters, such as reflector surface tolerance of better than 0.001” over the Quiet Zone section of the reflector and superior Quiet Zone field performance at frequencies down to 1.0 GHz were verified and validated. As a part of further studies of potential advantages delivered by the compact range system, the study of the compact range application to Antenna and RCS measurements at VHF/UHF frequencies was initiated. Though the reflector surface tolerance is not an issue at the VHF/UHF bands, successful compact range operation at these frequencies would be a significant expansion of the capabilities of the existing compact range system. In order to evaluate the system performance at VHF/UHF frequencies a number of challenging technical issues had to be resolved and performed. They include: Compact Range Quiet Zone Performance Analysis at the VHF/UHF bands Choice of a concept for a broadband feed suitable for the application and installation within the existing feed carousel Feed Design and Performance Validation Feed Installation in the existing feed carousel Quiet Zone Field Probing and Performance Verification All these issues were addressed in the development of a suitable low frequency feed, and are described in more detail below.
The National Radar Cross Section Measurement Facilities Certification Program seeks to raise collectively the quality bar across the community. A program to accomplish this goal was initiated in 1995. It continues with facilities joining the program every year. The program has now entered the recertification phase for facilities that achieved certification five or more years ago. This paper will briefly cover the history of the program, the participants, the certification process and criteria, the recertification process, status, and the way ahead.
A real-time S-band radar imaging system will be shown in this paper that uses a spatially diverse antenna array connected to a highly sensitive linear FM radar system and uses a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging algorithm to produce real-time radar imagery. The core of this radar system is a high-sensitivity, range gated, radar architecture. Previous work has demonstrated the effectiveness of this radar architecture for applications requiring low-power and high sensitivity for imaging through lossy dielectric slabs at S-band and in free space at both S and X bands. From these results it was decided to develop a real-time S-band SAR imaging system. This is achieved by constructing a spatially diverse antenna array that plugs directly into a pair of S-band transmit and receive radar front ends; thereby providing the ability for real-time SAR imaging of objects. The radar system chirps from approximately 2 GHz to 4 GHz at various rates from 700 microseconds to 10 milliseconds. Transmit power is adjustable from approximately 1 milliwatt or less. The image update rate is approximately one image every 1.9 seconds when operating at a chirp rate of 2.5 milliseconds. This system is capable of producing imagery of target scenes made up of objects as small as 1.25 inch tall nails in free space without the use of coherent integration. Previous applications for this radar system include imaging through dielectric slabs. It will be shown in this paper that this radar system could also be useful for real-time radar imaging of low RCS targets at S-band.
This paper deals with characterization of passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag performance. Tag’s energy harvesting properties and the significance of the backscattered signal strength and radar cross section (RCS) of the tag are discussed using two examples: dipole tag antennas of various widths and identification of industrial paper reels.
Commercial windmill driven power turbines (“Wind Turbines”) are expanding in popularity and use in the commercial power industry since they can generate significant electricity without using fuel or emitting carbon dioxide “greenhouse gas”. In-country and near-off shore wind turbines are becoming more common on the European continent, and the United States has recently set long term goals to generate 10% of national electric power using renewable sources. In order to make such turbines efficient, current 1.5 MW wind turbine towers and rotors are very large, with blades exceeding 67 meters in diameter, and tower heights exceeding 55 meters. Newer 4.5 MW designs are expected to be even larger. The problem with such large, moving metallic devices is the potential interference such structures present to an array of civilian air traffic control radars. A recent study by the Undersecretary of Defense for Space and Sensor Technology acknowledged the potential performance impact wind turbines introduce when sited within line of site of air traffic control or air route radars. [1]. In the Spring of 2006, the Air Force Research Laboratory embarked on a rigorous measurement and prediction program to provide credible data to national decision makers on the magnitude of the signatures, so the interference issues could be credibly studied. This paper, the first of two parts, will discuss the calibrated RCS measurement of the turbines and compare this data (with uncertainty) to modeled data.
The DGA/CELAR (France) (Centre d'Electronique de l'Armement: French Center for Armament Electronics) is able to measure targets in order to get their RCS (Radar Cross Section). Yet CELAR RCS measurement facilities are not compact bases and therefore the measured field is a near field. This article proposes a solution allowing the transformation of this near field to a far field and this in the three dimensions of space without limiting any dimension with Fraunhöfer criterion. Thanks to this method the RCS of a target is able to be known in any direction of space and moreover the calculation of a three-dimensional ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar) picture is thus possible. At first the theoretic part of our work is presented. Then a fast method in order to calculate the transformation of a near field to a far field by optimising the calculation time thanks to signal processing theory is given. Finally obtained results from simulated bright points are presented.