A full duplex capable retrodirective array system for high-speed beam tracking and pointing applications

A retrodirective array capable of full duplex communication is presented. The system is based purely on analog circuits for all signal-processing tasks including target tracking, beam pointing, and carrier recovery. Two types of receiver architectures are used, i.e., AM diode detectors for near-omni directional coverage and a digital beamforming receiver to enhance signal-to-interference ratio. This paper also discusses this technology in the context of development of a radar target/communication device, which is intended to both facilitate radar imaging and establish a self-tracking communication link between the ground terminal and mobile radar station. Demonstration of 10-Mb/s data receiving and transmitting functions are presented along with its automatic beam-steering ability and radiation patterns, as well as details about each major circuit component used in the array.