Drone Detection With X-Band Ubiquitous Radar

Abstract

This paper presents the design and experimental results on commercial-drone detection with a ubiquitous frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system demonstrator, working at 8.75 GHz (X-band). The demonstrator is introduced and its main blocks are described, with particular attention to the PC-based signal processor. Subsequently, the document presents the chosen scenario for the tests, and shows the results of the offline processing, achieving a DJI-Phantom-4 detection at a range up to 2 km. The results are illustrated with range-Doppler matrices and detection figures. Range, speed and azimuth accuracies are discussed, considering the drone GPS data. Finally, the paper introduces statistical radar-cross-section (RCS) studies based on the processed data, in order to classify the drone as a Swerling target, and discusses the drone average RCS.