Development of a 94 GHZ Radar System for Dedicated Bird Detection at Airports and Airfields
Abstract
WaveBand as part of a Dual Use and Science and Technology Contract in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Rome NY developed a 94 GHz radar named BIRDARTM to detect and report bird activity at airports and airfields and thus prevent potential bird strikes with aircraft during landing and takeoff. The radar is compact utilizing a state-of-the-art 575 mW solid state millimeter-wave power source. WaveBand's patented scanning antenna is used to transmit and receive signals that detect and track birds. The return signals are processed in a radar signal processor incorporated into a low-cost PC architecture. The integrated monitor displays the backscattered power in several ways. The primary format is backscattered power in range versus azimuth angle or transformed azimuth distance. Alternate displays of moving targets superimposed on GIS maps or two-dimensional perspective imagery with near-photographic quality corresponding to the backscattered power are also available. Months of testing at several venues proved the final radar design to exhibit reliable performance. Calibration test and evaluation sites included USAFRL Rome NY; JFK Airport NY; Klamath Basin OR; El Mirage Dry Lake CA; Salton Sea CA; Bolsa Chica Bird Reserve CA; and DFW Airport TX. Small bird detections were reported at distances of 1.2 to 1.3 km and large birds such as geese at distances of 2.3 to 2.6 km during these tests. Final testing at DFW Airport was a great success in that the radar functioned perfectly throughout and was able to detect birds of opportunity at ranges that provided data to substantiate the extrapolation of future radar designs to the detection of large bird flocks at 3 miles. Substantial coverage of the final DFW tests was provided by members of radio TV and the printed press.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA444862
Entities
People
- Lawrence A. Klein
- Lev Sadovnik