Experimental Evaluation of 79 and 300 GHz Radar Performance in Fire Environments.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Applied Physics
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Firefighting operations are hampered by limited visibility due to flames, smoke, and water vapor.
• Traditional sensors like cameras and LIDAR struggle to penetrate dense fire environments.
• Millimeter wave (mmWave) and Low Terahertz (THz) frequencies offer potential for non-invasive sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate the propagation characteristics of mmWave/Low THz signals through fire.
• To evaluate radar performance in realistic fire scenarios.
• To assess the feasibility of using mmWave/Low THz radar for firefighting imaging.

Main Methods:

• Experimental study of signal propagation at 79 GHz and 300 GHz through fire.
• Testing radar performance in simulated fire conditions with flames, smoke, and water vapor.
• Comparative analysis using stereo video cameras and LIDAR as reference sensors.

Main Results:

• Radar successfully enabled object visibility in fire environments across tested scenarios.
• Measured signal attenuation in various fire conditions, including comparison with theoretical steam calculations.
• Demonstrated the capability of mmWave/Low THz radar to penetrate fire-related obscurants.

Conclusions:

• mmWave and Low THz radar systems are effective for imaging in fire environments.
• These radar technologies offer significant potential for advanced firefighting imaging equipment.
• The experimental results support the development of radar-based solutions for enhanced situational awareness in firefighting.