UAV-based photonic-FMCW radar for distance and velocity measurement of aerial targets

Microwave-photonics is an emerging technology that is rapidly gaining attention in the fields of RF and optics due to its wide bandwidth, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and its advantages in compactness and lightweight integration. This paper presents a comprehensive study of a UAV-integrated photonics- frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system designed for the surveillance of aerial objects, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The small UAVs are significant threats to both public safety and military security by enabling unauthorized surveillance, and delivering illegal payloads. Our research work delivers national security by detecting, measuring and monitoring the aerial threats. The architecture of the photonics-FMCW radar is thoroughly detailed, highlighting its innovative design and operational principles. The radar system is integrated into a UAV platform to enable real-time monitoring and detection of aerial targets. Through simulation and analysis, both the radar-equipped UAV model and target drone models were successfully validated. Even the real time photonics radar field experiments result and analysis are presented in the paper. The system demonstrated high accuracy in measuring the distance and velocity of the target drones, with minimal error. The findings of this study contribute to the advancement of microwave-photonics technology and its application in modern aerial surveillance, offering significant potential for enhanced security and monitoring capabilities in various fields.