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Secondary Radar Beacons for Local Ad-Hoc Autonomous Robot Localization Systems
Martin Schütz1, Tatiana Pavlenko1, Martin Vossiek1
1Institute of Microwaves and Photonics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 18, 2019
Summary
This study details secondary radar beacons for autonomous vehicle navigation systems. The research presents a novel transponder design and implementation, addressing range inaccuracies for improved localization and landing.
Area of Science:
- Electrical Engineering
- Robotics
- Navigation Systems
Background:
- Autonomous vehicles require precise localization and landing capabilities.
- Existing radar systems face challenges in ad-hoc navigation scenarios.
- Secondary radar beacons offer a potential solution for enhanced navigation support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and implement secondary radar beacons for a local ad-hoc localization and landing system (LAOLa).
- To support the navigation of autonomous ground and aerial vehicles.
- To present a novel transponder design and detailed signal model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a switched linear feedback network as a virtually coherent oscillator for the secondary radar transponder.
- Developed a detailed signal model for the transponder response in an FMCW radar system.
- Implemented and evaluated a 24 GHz ISM band transponder in laboratory and field settings.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of the secondary radar beacon concept for autonomous navigation.
- Validated the RF performance of the implemented transponder.
- Identified inherent range measurement inaccuracies and proposed methods for mitigation.
Conclusions:
- The developed secondary radar beacons are suitable for local ad-hoc localization and landing systems.
- The novel transponder design and signal model advance the field of autonomous vehicle navigation.
- Further research is needed to fully overcome range measurement limitations.
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