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

在未来，毫米波频率的雷达传感器将被广泛应用于汽车、自动化技术、安全工程、物流、质量控制或生物医学应用。由于硅-锗技术的进步，可以在100 GHz以上的毫米波范围内实现紧凑、节能和成本效益高的雷达传感器。由于雷达传感器具有较高的工作频率、较大的系统带宽和较大的倍频孔径，因此雷达传感器的物理尺寸非常紧凑。针对高分辨率双目MIMO毫米波雷达在高频信号分布、高集成度和高效率标定等方面存在的问题，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。为此目的，结合了乌尔姆大学在毫米波雷达技术领域的专门知识和伊尔梅瑙理工学院在高分辨率参数估计领域的专门知识。建立了一种新型的MIMO雷达系统，该系统由两个耦合的MIMO雷达组成，工作频率约为160 GHz，可以对分布的目标进行近距离的高分辨率双目或准立体观测。对采用FMCW原理的雷达的分辨率和噪声特性进行了分析。基于模型的信号处理方法用于补偿硬件损伤，从而提高了雷达的分辨率和稳健性。继续研究的方案是通过高频信号的非相干分布来降低双目雷达的硬件复杂度。硬件中的这些适应应在参数估计器中考虑。此外，还将开发雷达目标模型(目标模型)，并将其整合到估计器中。这为对象的分类以及确定对象的位置和方向提供了更多的可能性。由于阵列口径较大，在参数估计器中还应考虑球面波阵面。为了考虑参数估计器中灵活双目布置的阵列模型，还必须开发有效的校准程序。乌尔姆大学和伊尔梅瑙大学的合作为双目雷达系统的进一步发展及其理论和实验验证提供了保证。

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.