LTE‐based multistatic passive radar system for UAV detection

Abstract

Using the frequency-division duplex long-term evolution (LTE)-based multistatic passive radar system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection is considered. The typical outdoor terrestrial LTE eNodeBs and the broadband direct air-to-ground communications network eNodeBs are used to cover the UAVs at the low altitude and at the medium-high altitude, respectively. The bistatic range measurements are obtained from multiple eNodeBs, and the hyperbolic positioning technique is used for target localisation. Since the existing LTE downlink signals are more suitable for the transmission of the communication data rather than target detection, a new LTE downlink signal feature termed as target localisation reference signals (TLRS) is designed exclusively for the passive radar application using the Costas frequency coding and the P4 phase coding. Compared with the existing LTE downlink signal features, the TLRS have better waveform properties and could potentially provide much higher target detection accuracy. Meanwhile, the TLRS occupy only 0.266% LTE downlink time–frequency resources within a time frame of 1 s when the bandwidth is 10 MHz and have no negative impact on the normal LTE downlink data transmission.