Design Procedures and Considerations of FOD Detection Millimeter-Wave FMCW Radar

In this paper, nontrivial design procedures and important considerations of millimeter-wave Foreign Object Debris detection FMCW radar is discussed in detail. FOD are potential hazards on airport runways. Millimeter-wave radars are applied in FOD detections. Firstly, detection requirements are given, then fundamental parameters including waveform selection, frequency band, transmit power and minimum SNR are designed by theories, regulations and feasibilities. Secondly, parameters including antenna, FOD RCS simulations and measurements, noise figure, frequency sweep and digital processing parameters are proposed to calculate range with sensitivity and cross-range resolution checked. Thirdly, significant performance parameters of front-end design considerations (receiver overload, phase noise, leakage control-far-zone aliasing) are discussed with runway clutter estimated. An important 3-step calibration method to decrease noise and clutter effects is stated. IF processing considerations of pulse compression, coherent integration and stretch compression processor block diagram are shown. Range resolution and positioning accuracy improvement methods are stated with simulation. Finally, design parameters are summarized, and homodyne FMCW radar block diagram is shown. This paper has clearly elaborated preliminary procedures and considerations of FOD detection FMCW radar design, which has significant reference values.