Effective and affordable detection of small UAVs using millimetre wave coherent Doppler radar.

小型无人驾驶飞行器（SUAVs）或无人机已经变得非常受欢迎，因为经济实惠的技术进步使它们非常容易控制，完全自主的gps制导SUAVs现在已经公开可用。然而，对sauv的恶意使用也在增加，它们现在被视为对公共隐私、安全和保障的潜在威胁。近年来，有许多关于无人机入侵的新闻报道，包括2013年安格拉·默克尔在一次活动中被嗡嗡叫，2015年初在巴黎上空看到几架神秘无人机，以及2015年两起无人机降落在白宫场地的案例。如果是在恐怖袭击发生前用无人机携带的摄像头在政府大楼里进行侦察呢？如果一架无人机飞到机场起飞飞机的航线上怎么办？如果一架装备了武器或炸药的大型无人机被用来袭击一大群人或核电站呢？可悲的是，这些都是我们不能忽视的可信威胁，这就要求我们有能力探测入侵的无人机，并最终进行干预以消除威胁。小型无人机能否成功探测到入侵受控空间的情况，取决于能否在足够的距离内可靠地探测到它们，即在足够的时间内，能够采取适当的规避行动，同时将它们与其他无害物体区分开来。任何传感器都必须在包含复杂结构和令人困惑的背景信号的位置实现这一点。雷达是实现无人机探测的最佳技术之一，因为它能够测量快速旋转螺旋桨的特征多普勒特征，因此有可能将无人机与其他移动物体（如鸟类）区分开来。然而，传统的微波雷达很难探测到来自SUAVs的反射，因为它们体积小，金属含量低。我们之前由stfc资助的研究表明，波长较短的毫米波雷达特别适合探测低反射率、缓慢移动的目标。在这项工作中，我们开发了一种雷达来测量在大气中高空移动的微小云粒子的多普勒特征。在这个项目中，我们建议应用这些相同的技术来开发一种低功率，紧凑的毫米波雷达演示器，该演示器将能够在广泛的搜索区域内以高概率检测SUAVs，并且低假警报。我们相信，紧凑型、低成本的毫米波雷达有巨大的市场机会，可以快速部署，并作为可轻松重新配置以满足广泛现场安装需求的自组织网络的一部分。我们预计，该雷达的各种型号将既适用于固定的永久性设施（例如国家基础设施中心（CNI）、发电站、机场、政府大楼和数据中心），也适用于灵活的临时部署（例如VIP亮相、音乐节、赛车赛事、体育场馆、游行/演示）。我们的项目合作伙伴，BAE系统应用情报实验室，鉴于他们的记录和经验，在这些市场上处于非常有利的地位。除了为这个潜在的大市场提供设备的直接经济机会之外，能够防止无人机入侵还有重要的间接经济效益。防止因无人机入侵造成的延误、疏散或最终在机场坠毁，将保护这些交通枢纽对英国经济的巨大贡献。此外，防止未经授权录制/拍摄新电影和大型体育赛事，将保护宝贵的知识产权。当然，来自无人机的威胁并不局限于英国：如果从这项研究中开发出一个可靠的系统，它可以出口到有同样担忧的外国，为英国经济带来进一步的财富。

Small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs), or drones, have become incredibly popular due to advances in affordable technology which allow them to be very easily controlled, and fully autonomous GPS-guided SUAVs are now publicly available. However, the nefarious use of SAUVs is also increasing and they are now regarded as a potential threat to public privacy, safety and security. There have been many news reports of unwanted SUAV incursions in recent years including Angela Merkel being buzzed at an event in 2013, several mystery drones being sighted over Paris in early 2015, and two cases of SUAVs landing in the White House grounds in 2015.What if a SUAV-borne camera is being used for reconnaissance at a government building prior to a terrorist attack? What if a SUAV is flown into the path of an aircraft taking off at an airport? What if a larger SUAV equipped with a weapon or explosives is used to attack a large crowd or a nuclear power station? Sadly, these are all credible threats which we cannot ignore and this demands that we have the capability to detect intruding SUAVs and ultimately intervene to neutralise the threat.The successful detection of the intrusion into controlled spaces by small UAVs depends on being able to detect them reliably at sufficient range, i.e. in sufficient time, to be able to take appropriate evasive action whilst discriminating them from other harmless objects. Any sensor has to achieve this in locations containing complex structures and confusing background signals.Radar is one of the best techniques to achieve SUAV detection because it is capable of measuring the characteristic Doppler signatures of the rapidly rotating propellers and thus has the potential to distinguish SUAVs from other moving objects such as birds. However, conventional microwave radar struggles to detect the reflections from SUAVs due to their small size and low metal content.Our previous STFC-funded research has shown that shorter wavelength, millimetre wave radars are particularly well-suited to detecting low reflectivity, slowly moving targets. In that work we developed a radar to measure the Doppler signatures of tiny cloud particles moving high up in the atmosphere. In this project we propose to apply those same techniques to develop a low power, compact, millimetre wave radar demonstrator which will be capable of detecting SUAVs with high probability, and low false alarms, over a wide search area.We believe there are significant market opportunities for compact, low cost millimetre wave radars which may be deployed rapidly and as part of an ad hoc network that can be easily reconfigured to meet the demands of a wide range of site installations. We anticipate that variants of the radar will be suitable for both fixed, permanent installations (e.g. Centres of National Infrastructure (CNI), power stations, airports, government buildings, and data centres) and flexible, temporary deployments (e.g. VIP appearances, music festivals, motor sport events, sports arenas, parades / demonstrations). Our Project Partner, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Labs, is very well placed to capitalise on these markets given their track record and experience.Beyond the direct economic opportunities of supplying equipment to this potentially large market, there are significant indirect economic benefits to being able to prevent SUAV intrusion. Preventing delays, evacuations or ultimately crashes at airports caused by SUAV intrusion will protect the enormous contribution these transport hubs make to the UK economy. Furthermore, preventing the unauthorised recording/filming of new movies and major sporting events from SUAV-borne cameras will protect valuable intellectual property. Of course, the threat from SUAVs is not limited to the UK: if a reliable system is developed from this research, it could be exported to foreign nations that share the same concerns, bringing further wealth to the UK economy.