Ultra-wideband synthesis for high-range resolution software defined radar

Abstract

This paper presents a design for implementing an ultra-wideband (UWB) Software Defined Radar (SDRadar) using a bandwidth reconstruction technique for a stepped frequency signal called frequency stacking to create a synthetic wideband waveform (SWW). Practical methods of overcoming traditional limitations of SDRadar and stepped chirp radar are introduced and performance is demonstrated using a commercial battery-powered Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) Software Defined Radio (SDR). Application-specific considerations are made and performance trade-offs are demonstrated. The proposed design has multiple applications in low-cost, reconfigurable Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platforms.