Applications of millimeter-wave radars to airport surface surveillance

Developments in MMIC (Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuits) technology and ceramic electronic scan antennas have made low power, low-cost, millimeter-wave radars practical. Two such radar systems scheduled for high-volume commercial production are the W-Band Adaptive Cruise Control Radar for automobile collision avoidance and the Ka-Band Landing Aids Radar for the airborne enhanced vision system. Data collected at the Los Angeles International Airport for aircraft and surface traffic, in various modes of operation, is presented. The data shows that these radar systems can reliably measure the position and velocity of an aircraft or a surface vehicle in the different situations encountered on the airport surface. A system utilizing a collection of these radar units can provide reliable runway incursion warnings. These radar units, in combination with an interrogation and identification system can be used to provide the needed data inputs to an airport traffic planner, or alternatively to enhance the performance of a primary airport surface surveillance system