High Resolution binocular MIMO Radars at Millimeter Wave Frequencies (binoMIMO)

未来，毫米波频率的雷达传感器将用于各种应用，如汽车、自动化技术、安全工程、物流、质量控制或生物医学应用。得益于硅锗技术的进步，可以在100 GHz以上的毫米波频率范围内实现紧凑、节能和经济的雷达传感器。由于高的工作频率，大的系统带宽和同时波长倍数的非常大的孔径可以用雷达传感器的紧凑的物理尺寸来实现。然而，这些成像系统的高频信号分布、高集成度带来的非理想性以及有效的校准等问题，在“高分辨率双目MIMO毫米波雷达”项目中，首次将一种新颖的MIMO雷达概念与基于模型的信号处理方法相结合。为此，乌尔姆大学在毫米波雷达技术领域的专业知识和TU Ilmenau在高分辨率参数估计领域的专业知识相结合。建立了一种新型MIMO雷达系统，该系统由两个工作在约160 GHz的耦合MIMO雷达组成，可以对近距离的分布式目标进行高分辨率的双目或准立体观测。分析了FMCW雷达的分辨力和噪声特性。采用基于模型的信号处理方法对硬件损伤进行补偿，提高了雷达的分辨率和鲁棒性，通过高频信号的非相干分布降低了双目雷达的硬件复杂度。在参数估计器中应考虑硬件中的这些自适应。此外，雷达目标的模型（对象模型）将被开发并集成到估计器中。这为对象的分类提供了更多的可能性，以及确定对象的位置和取向的可能性。由于阵列孔径较大，在参数估计中还应考虑球面波阵面。为了在参数估计器中考虑灵活的双目布置的阵列模型，还必须开发有效的校准程序。乌尔姆大学和TU Ilmenau之间的合作保证了双目雷达系统的进一步开发及其理论和实验验证。

In the future, radar sensors for millimeter wave frequencies will be used in a wide variety of applications such as automotive, automation technology, safety engineering, logistics, quality control or biomedical applications. Thanks to progress in silicon-germanium technology, compact, energy-efficient and cost-effective radar sensors can be implemented at frequencies in the millimeter wave range above 100 GHz. Due to the high operating frequencies, large system bandwidths and at the same time very large apertures in multiples of the wavelength can be realized with compact physical dimensions of the radar sensor. However, there are major problems with the distribution of the high-frequency signal, the non-idealities due to the high integration level and the efficient calibration of these imaging systems.In the project "High-resolution binocular MIMO millimeter wave radars", a novel MIMO radar concept was combined with model-based signal processing methods for the first time. The expertise of the University of Ulm in the field of millimeter wave radar technology and the expertise of the TU Ilmenau in the field of high-resolution parameter estimation was combined for this purpose. A novel MIMO radar system consisting of two coupled MIMO radars operating at approximately 160 GHz was built, which allows high-resolution binocular or quasi-stereoscopic observation of distributed objects at a close range. The radar operating with the FMCW principle has been analyzed with respect to its resolution and noise properties. Methods of model-based signal processing were used to compensate for hardware impairments, such that the resolution and robustness of the radar has been enhanced.This continuative research proposal deals with the reduction of the hardware complexity of the binocular radar by a non-coherent distribution of the high-frequency signal. These adaptations in the hardware shall be considered in the parameter estimator. Furthermore, a model of the radar target (object model) is to be developed and integrated into the estimator. This offers more possibilities for the classification of objects, as well as the possibility to determine position and orientation of the objects. Due to the large array aperture, spherical wave fronts should also be considered in the parameter estimator. In order to consider an array model for the flexible binocular arrangement within the parameter estimator, efficient calibration procedures have to be developed, too.The cooperation between the University of Ulm and the TU Ilmenau guarantees the further development of the binocular radar system as well as its theoretical and experimental verification.