A millimetre-wave MIMO radar system for threat detection in patrol or checkpoint scenarios

This paper covers the role of a millimetre-wave (mmw) radar sensor within a European scientific program with the aim of preventing security or supply patrols from harms caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), land-mines etc. in hostile conflict zones. In order to give an added value to a conventional visual camera system, measurement data from an infra-red (IR) camera, a visual camera, a radiometer and a millimetre-wave radar are fused and displayed on a human-machine-interface (HMI) which shall assist the vehicle´s co-driver to identify suspect objects or persons on or next to the road without forcing the vehicle to stop its cruise. Within an international consortium, a complete demonstration system with the afore mentioned sensors, as well as a data fusion engine were designed, constructed, mounted on a military patrol truck and successfully tested for different objects in different scenarios. Furthermore, this paper introduces the applied radar modes in more detail and gives measurement results.