NLFM pulse radar for drone detection using predistortion technique

Abstract

The development of radar technology for the detection of small drones is getting attention of researchers. In this work, the detection of drones using Ku-band radar system has been discussed. We have utilized the advantage of nonlinear frequency modulation (NLFM) waveform for the suppression of range sidelobes. The performance and sensitivity of a radar system can be related with the linearity of system response. Here, we have made an effort to minimize non-linearity in the radar system response by using digital predistortion method. In this method, amplitude weighting coefficients have been calculated based on the received data. We have used FPGA-based transceiver for intermediate frequency (IF) signal generation and data acquisition, along with Ku-band up-down converters. The radar system was first calibrated for desired frequency band using amplitude predistortion method. In this article, experiment results for the detection of single drone and two drones using NLFM pulse signal are presented.