Design challenges of a low power ARM based image processing sub system for a portable radar

Abstract

Portable systems are becoming the de-facto necessity of users. The efficacy of a portable system depends on the battery life, which is determined by the power consumption of the entire system. Handheld Ground Penetrating Radar (HHGPR) is a sensor used for detection of landmines buried under the surface of earth. HHGPR is a portable, compact, low power battery operated system. This system needs to be operated continuously for 8 hours on battery. So utmost care is required in designing and developing every sub-system in terms of Size, Weight and Power consumption (SWaP). As the sub system power consumption increases, weight and size of the system also increases. Typical radar consists of the sub systems like Transmitter, receiver, signal processor, data processor and Display to do distinct functionalities. Conventional Radar applications have signal processor, data processor and display realized as separate hardware. This paper describes the hardware and software design steps and challenges in realizing a custom low power (< 3W) image and data processor sub system which can do functionalities of Radar Controller, Image processor and Display processor for Handheld Ground Penetrating radar which is developed along with a signal processor on a compact single PCB to meet the SWaP constraints of a portable system. The image and data processor subsystem realised in this paper has been used in Handheld Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and it is developed in Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).