Robust ultra wideband radar systems for real-time sensing, characterization, and imaging applications

本提案的重点是开发一种鲁棒的传感器技术，用于实时传感、表征和成像应用。提出的传感器技术将基于超宽带（UWB）雷达原理进行开发。研究的目标应用领域是地理信息学，特别关注隧道建设，以及电子卫生，具体目标是开发非接触式人体生命体征监测系统。研究的长期目标是(a)地理信息学：众所周知，缺乏实时测量仪器和解决方案来检测埋藏的复杂性，例如意外的巨石，从硬粘土到不稳定的沙子的突然变化，以及隧道工作面埋藏的燃气和水管，这些都是隧道工程高风险的原因。本研究的目标是开发一种可行的实时测量工具，可以与隧道掘进机集成，以估计隧道工作面前方隧道段的地质参数。拟议的研究还扩展了最先进的探地雷达技术的范围。(b)电子健康：实现了非接触式传感器技术监测人体生理和微波辐射计监测内脏温度的意义。然而，这种技术的基本限制是由于患者的雷达横截面的衰落而产生的。本研究的长期目标是开发一种强大的非接触式传感器技术，用于以下应用：(i)非接触式测量心跳、心率变异性和呼吸频率监测，并根据患者的危急情况产生报警信号；（ii）测量腹部脂肪厚度和确定脂肪质量，以帮助研究肥胖患者。

This proposal focuses on developing a robust sensor technology for real-time sensing, characterization, and imaging applications. The proposed sensor technology will be developed based on ultra wideband (UWB) radar principles. The targeted application areas of the research are in geomatics with special focus on tunnel construction, and e-health with specific goal of developing contactless human vital-sign monitoring systems. The long term objectives of the research are in (a) Geomatics: It is well understood that the lack of real-time surveying instruments and solutions to detect the buried complexities such as unexpected boulders, sudden change from hard clay to unstable sand, and buried gas and water pipes at the tunnel face contribute to the high risk of tunneling projects. The goal of this research is to develop a viable real-time surveying tool that can be integrated with tunnel boring machine to estimate the geological parameters of the tunnel section immediately ahead of the tunnel face. The proposed research also extends the horizons of the state-of-the-art ground penetrating radar technologies. (b) e-health: Significance of contactless sensor technology for monitoring the human physiology, and microwave radiometer for monitoring the temperature of internal organs has been realized. However, fundamental limitation for this technology arises due to the fading radar cross section of the patient. Long term goal of this research is to develop a robust contactless sensor technology for the following applications: (i) contactless measurement of heartbeat, heart rate variability, and breathing rate monitoring, as well as generate alarm signals based on critical condition of the patient (ii) measurement of abdominal fat thickness and determination of quality of fat to help the studies of obesity in a patient. Even though UWB technology is already in use for numerous applications the state-of-the-art UWB sensor technology limited by its lack of robustness. The proposed research develops the theory and design for robust ultra wideband sensor technology, and also study their implementation and integration to solve the above two problems.