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A Modular MIMO Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radar System for Space Applications and Its Components

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Abstract

This article presents the design and prototyping of components for a modular multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) millimeter-wave radar for space applications. A single radar panel consists of 8 transmitters (TX) and 8 receivers (RX), which can be placed several times on the satellite to realize application-specific radar apertures and hence different cross-range resolutions. The radar chirp signals are generated by SiGe:C BiCMOS direct-digital-synthesizers (DDS) in the frequency range of 1 to 10.5GHz with a chirp repetition rate of < 1μs within each TX and RX. The latter allows for easy interfaces in the MHz range in between the TX/RX units and therefore optimized 2-D sparse antenna arrays with rather large distances in between the TX/RX antennas. Furthermore, this allows for ideally linear frequency modulated continuous-waveforms (FMCW) in conjunction with phase-shift-keying (PSK) radar signals and enables simultaneous operation of all TX when code division multiplex (CDMA) modulation schemes are applied. Comparably low complexity of the TX/RX units has been achieved by applying straightforward frequency plans to signal generation and detection but comes with challenging requirements for the individual active and passive components. Tackled by thin film technology on alumina and the recently developed SiGe and InP semiconductor technologies, which have been further optimized in terms of process maturity and space qualification. Upconversion and downconversion to and from 85 to 94.5GHz are performed by double balanced Gilbert mixers realized with InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor technology (DHBT) and 42-GHz local oscillator signals from SiGe:C BiCMOS VCO synthesizer using phase-locked-loops (PLL). InP DHBT power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers allow for output power levels of 15dBm and > 30dB gain with noise figure values of 9dB, respectively. The MIMO radar utilizes patch antenna arrays on organic multilayer printed circuit boards (PCB) with 18dBi gain and 18∘ half power beamwidth (HPBW). Generation of power supply and control signals, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), and radar signal processing are provided centrally to each panel. The radar supports detection and tracking of satellites in distances up to 1000m and image generation up to 20m, which is required to support orbital maneuvers like satellite rendezvous and docking for non-cooperative satellites.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under project MIMIRAWE (grant number: 50RA1326–29).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Continental AG, ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH, Robert-Bosch-Str. 7, 85521, Munich, Germany

    Michael Hrobak

  2. BMW AG, Landshuter Str. 26, 85716, Munich, Germany

    Karsten Thurn

  3. University of Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany

    Jochen Moll, Amit Shrestha & Viktor Krozer

  4. Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Maruf Hossain, Adam Rämer & Wolfgang Heinrich

  5. Thales Deutschland GmbH, Schützenstr. 25, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Thualfiqar Al-Sawaf

  6. Nexperia GmbH, Stresemannallee 101, 22529, Hamburg, Germany

    Dimitri Stoppel

  7. University of Duisburg-Essen, Forsthausweg 2, 47057, Duisburg, Germany

    Nils G. Weimann

  8. Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen, Cauerstr. 9, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    Javier Martinez & Martin Vossiek

  9. Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark

    Tom K. Johansen

  10. Robo-Technology GmbH, Benzstr. 12, 82178, Puchheim, Germany

    Marion Resch & Jürgen Bosse

  11. Rohde, Schwarz GmbH, Co. KG, Mühldorfstr. 15, 81671, Munich, Germany

    Michael Sterns

  12. Rohde, Schwarz GmbH, Co. KG, Kaikenrieder Str. 27, 94244, Teisnach, Germany

    Kai Loebbicke & Stefan Zorn

  13. IHP GmbH, Im Technologiepark 25, 15236, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

    Mohamed Eissa, Marco Lisker & Frank Herzel

  14. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Kalkhorstweg 53, 17235, Neustrelitz, Germany

    Robert Miesen

  15. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147, Cologne, Germany

    Klaus Vollmann

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  1. Michael Hrobak
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  22. Frank Herzel
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Correspondence to Michael Hrobak.

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Hrobak, M., Thurn, K., Moll, J. et al. A Modular MIMO Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radar System for Space Applications and Its Components. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 42, 275–324 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-020-00736-9

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