K Band Radar Drone Signatures

An experimental K-band radar setup has been developed using industrial radar board IVS-465 and NI MyRIO for control and data acquisition. Experimental drone K band signatures have been recorded and analyzed. It has been confirmed by analysis of recorded spectrograms that drone K band radar signatures are influenced mainly by the drone frame motion. The signals from the rotation of the propellers are of lower intensity with characteristic spectral lines. A phenomenological model of a drone radar Doppler signature is proposed, based on experimental data, representing a reflected signal from a scattering point with harmonic motion. The comparison of the measured and modeled signals shows similarity in the parameters. Electromagnetic FEM model of drone propeller has been investigated for radar cross section estimation and scattering points visualization in K band.