2018-081 - Software Defined Radar for USRP Software Defined Radio Platform

Description:
  • Military applications
  • Autonomous vehicle sensing
  • Software defined radio systems

Abstract

USC researchers created a new design for implementing SDRadar using a bandwidth reconstruction technique. This technique enables more efficient bandwidth usage and produces resolution improvements. Using commercial hardware, the USC researchers have improved the bandwidth by 9,900% and obtained a resolution of 5 cm. This low cost, high performance SDRadar can be used for multiple purposes.

Benefit

  • Lower cost
  • Higher performance
  • Short development cycles

Market Application

Software defined radar (SDRadar) is the next generation platform for many existing radar systems. Conventional specialized radar system development requires long development cycles and high costs because of application specific radar environments. SDRadars, however, are versatile. Most of the hardware processing is performed by software and changes to a radar’s specifications and functions can be achieved by modifying only the software. SDRadars can be reconfigured without any changes to the physical hardware.

 

SDRadar systems can be designed to support the growing military radar market (estimated to be worth $13 billion by 2020). These systems can also support autonomous vehicles as well as a variety of commercial applications where radars have been designed to support a specific need.

 

The problem with SDRadar systems is their low resolution and bandwidth issues. To take advantage of this groundbreaking technology and the fast growing radar market, a SDRadar system must include techniques that correct these resolution and bandwidth issues.

Publications

Prager, Samuel, et al. "Ultrawideband synthesis for high-range-resolution software-defined radar." IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement 69.6 (2019): 3789-3803.

Stage of Development

  • Experimentally validated
  • Available for licensing

Patent Information:

  • Title: Software Defined Radar
  • App Type: Nationalized PCT
  • Country: United States
  • Serial No.: 17/433,224
  • Patent No.: 12,210,117
  • File Date: 8/23/2021
  • Issued Date: 1/28/2025
  • Expire Date: 5/12/2041
  • Patent Status: Patent Issued