An Active Radar Interferometer Utilizing a Heterodyne Principle-Based Target Modulator
Müller S, Diewald AR, Fischer G (2025)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Book Volume: 25
Article Number: 1711
Journal Issue: 6
DOI: 10.3390/s25061711
Abstract
The Active Radar Interferometer (AcRaIn) represents a novel approach in secondary radar technology, aimed at environments with high reflective clutter, such as pipes and tunnels. This study introduces a compact design minimizing peripheral components and leveraging commercial semiconductor technologies operating in the 24 GHz ISM band. A heterodyne principle was adopted to enhance unambiguity and phase coherence without requiring synchronization or separate communication channels. Experimental validation involved free-space and pipe measurements, demonstrating functionality over distances up to 150 m. The radar system effectively reduced interference and achieved high precision in both straight and bent pipe scenarios, with deviations below 1.25% compared to manual measurements. By processing signals at intermediate frequencies, advantages such as improved efficiency, isolation, and system flexibility were achieved. Notably, the integration of amplitude modulation suppressed passive clutter, enabling clearer signal differentiation. Key challenges identified include optimizing signal processing and addressing logarithmic signal attenuation for better precision. These findings underscore AcRaIn’s potential for pipeline monitoring and similar applications.
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Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Müller, S., Diewald, A.R., & Fischer, G. (2025). An Active Radar Interferometer Utilizing a Heterodyne Principle-Based Target Modulator. Sensors, 25(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/s25061711
MLA:
Müller, Simon, Andreas R. Diewald, and Georg Fischer. "An Active Radar Interferometer Utilizing a Heterodyne Principle-Based Target Modulator." Sensors 25.6 (2025).
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