This document provides instructions for assembling a laptop-based radar kit developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It includes a block diagram, schematics, bill of materials, and step-by-step fabrication instructions. The goal is to increase collaboration between MIT and Lincoln Laboratory and introduce students to fields like RF design, signal processing, and radar system design through a hands-on project. Students are guided to assemble the various microwave, analog, and power components according to the schematics and instructions to build a functional radar system.
This document provides instructions for assembling a laptop-based radar kit developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It includes a block diagram, schematics, bill of materials, and step-by-step fabrication instructions. The goal is to increase collaboration between MIT and Lincoln Laboratory and introduce students to fields like RF design, signal processing, and radar system design through a hands-on project. Students are guided to assemble the various microwave, analog, and power components according to the schematics and instructions to build a functional radar system.
This document provides instructions for assembling a laptop-based radar kit developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It includes a block diagram, schematics, bill of materials, and step-by-step fabrication instructions. The goal is to increase collaboration between MIT and Lincoln Laboratory and introduce students to fields like RF design, signal processing, and radar system design through a hands-on project. Students are guided to assemble the various microwave, analog, and power components according to the schematics and instructions to build a functional radar system.
This document provides instructions for assembling a laptop-based radar kit developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It includes a block diagram, schematics, bill of materials, and step-by-step fabrication instructions. The goal is to increase collaboration between MIT and Lincoln Laboratory and introduce students to fields like RF design, signal processing, and radar system design through a hands-on project. Students are guided to assemble the various microwave, analog, and power components according to the schematics and instructions to build a functional radar system.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1/ 51
MIT IAP 2011 Laptop Based Radar: Block Diagram, Schematics, Bill of Material, and Fabrication Instructions*
Presented at the 2011 MIT Independent Activities Period (IAP)
Gregory L. Charvat, PhD MIT Lincoln Laboratory 10-28 January 2011 *This work is sponsored by the Department of the Air Force under Air Force Contract #FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government. MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-1 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-2 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
2
Motivation Increase MIT Campus and MIT Lincoln Laboratory collaboration
Increase pool of staff candidates with relevant skills for MIT
Lincoln Laboratory
Introduce students to the field of applied electromagnetics, RF
design, signal processing, analog design, and radar system design.
By making something interesting students could become motivated in the long term to work though challenging ECE and physics courses.
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-3 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
3
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-4 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
4
Fully Assembled Radar Kit
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-5 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
5
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-6 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
6
Block Diagram
FMCW Operates in ISM band of 2.4 GHz approximately 10 mW TX power Max range approximately 1 km for 10 dBsm Data acquisition/signal processing in MATLAB sound card digitizes sync pulse and de-chrip Supporting FFT, 2-pulse canceller, SAR image
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-7 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
7
Callouts
Cantenna1
Cantenna2
OSC1
ATT1
PA1 SPLTR1
MXR1 Modulator1 Video Amp1
LNA1
Batteries 8x AA
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-8 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
8
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-9 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
9
Video Amp1
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-10 GLC 8/28/2012
10
Quad op-amp MAX414 used in single-supply configuration. Gain stage to amplify output of MXR1, adjust to max before op-amp clips during FMCW mode Followed by 15 KHz 4th order LPF prevents aliasing of PCs input audio port
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Modulator1
Produces linear ramp which modulates OSC1 Vtune input pin Vtune voltage is proportional to transmit frequency Linear Ramping of Vtune causes OSC1 to produce a linear FM chirp used for transmit and receive Set up-ramp time to 20ms, for 40ms triangle wave period Set magnitude of ramp to desired transmit bandwidth Produces receive trigger signal synchronized with start of linear ramp
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-11 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
11
Power Supply & Battery Pack
2 battery packs, 4x AAs in each producing 6V and 12V 5 VDC low-dropout regulator is fed by 6V from battery packs
12 VDC powers analog circuits including Modulator1 and
Video Amp1 MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-12 GLC 8/28/2012 12
powers RF components and provides reference voltage for analog circuits which enables single supply operation
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-13 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
13
Bill of Materials (BOM) 1/3
Callout OSC1 ATT1 PA1/LNA1 SPLTR1 Qty/Kit Part# 1 ZX95-2536C+ 1 VAT-3+ 2 ZX60-272LN-S+ 1 ZX10-2-42+ Radar RF Description Supplier Supplier Part # Cost Each Subtotal $42.50 $9.95 $39.95 $34.95 $42.50 $9.95 $79.90 $34.95 2315-2536 MC VCO, +6 dBm Out Mini-Circuits ZX95-2536C+ 3dB SMA M-F attenuator Mini-Circuits VAT-3+
Gain 14 dB, NF=1.2 dB, IP1= 18.5 dBm Mini-Circuits ZX60-272LN-S+ 1900-4200 Mc, 0.1 dB insertion loss Mini-Circuits ZX10-2-42+
MXR1 SMA M-M Barrels
1 ZX05-43MH-S+ 4 SM-SM50+
13 dBm LO, RF to LO loss 6.1 dB, IP1 9dBm Mini-Circuits ZX05-43MH-S+
SMA-SMA M-M barrel Mini-Circuits SM-SM50+ Cantennas TBD local grocary store TBD 1556A24 523-901-9889-RFX
$46.45 $5.45
$46.45 $21.80
Can L bracket SMA F bulkhead
2 TBD 2 NA 2 901-9889-RFX
$5.00 $0.35 $4.27
$10.00 $0.70 $8.54
L-bracket, 7/8", zinc McMaster plated Carr SMA bulkhead F solder cup Mouser
6-32 screws 6-32 nuts 6-32 lockwashers 6" SMA M-M Cables
1 NA 1 NA 1 NA 3 086-12SM+
6-32 machine screw, 5/8" length, pk of McMaster 100 Carr
6-32 hex nuts, pk of McMaster 100 Carr lock washers for 6- McMaster 32 screws, pk of 100 Carr SMA-SMA M-M 6" cable
71-CCF071K00JKE36 71-CCF07-J-100K 71-CCF07-J-47K P4675-ND Total
$0.03 $0.05 $0.04 $0.07
$0.04 $0.04 $0.04 $0.68
$0.03 $0.10 $0.08 $0.07
$0.04 $0.08 $0.48 $0.68 $359.96
T356A105M020AT73 1 01 1 uf film capacitor
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-16 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
16
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-17 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
17
Fabrication
Unpack radar kit Sort parts according to function
microwave parts resistors semiconductors electrolytic capacitors capacitors hardware etc
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-18 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
18
Fabrication
Thread the 3 dB attenuator ATT1 onto the VCO OSC1 Thread a SMA-SMA barrel onto ATT1
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-19 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
19
Fabrication
Thread the barrel from ATT1 on to the input to PA1 Locate the 2nd amplifier module, LNA1 thread a SMA-SMA barrel on to the output of LNA1
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-20 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
20
Fabrication
Thread the SMA barrel from the output of LNA1 to the RF
port of MXR1 Thread a SMA-SMA barrel onto the LO port of MXR1
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-21 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
21
Fabrication
Remove the mounting bracket on MXR1
remove the two Phillips screws remove the mounting bracket thread the Phillips screws back into MXR1 MIT Lincoln Laboratory 22
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-22 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Find the power splitter SPLTR1 Similar to MXR1, remove the mounting bracket remove the two Phillips screws remove the mounting bracket thread the Phillips screws back into SPLTR1
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-23 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
23
Fabrication
Thread a SMA-SMA barrel on to the output of PA1 Thread the SMA-SMA barrel from the LO port of MXR1 to
one of the outputs of SPLTR1 (note: SPLTR1 shown in the above image is different in appearance than the one in the kit) MIT Lincoln Laboratory 24
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-24 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Thread the SMA-SMA from the output of PA1 onto the input
of SPLTR1 (note: SPLTR1 shown in the above image is different in appearance than the one in the kit) Now the microwave components should be connected together via the SMA-SMA barrels Lay the microwave components down on to the wood block MIT Lincoln Laboratory 25
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-25 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Using the #2 wood screws, screw down the microwave
screw holes are located on OSC1, PA1, or LNA1 be sure to leave room for the L brackets that will hold Cantenna1 and Cantenna2
components at 2 or more locations along the signal chain
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-26 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
26
Fabrication
Find the solderless breadboard The bottom of this breadboard has a peel-and-stick backing Peel off the protective layer over the adhesive Stick the breadboard to the wood just below OSC1-ATT1-PA1 components
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-27 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
27
Fabrication
Find the two battery packs, each holds 4x AA batteries Remove front covers of both battery packs Drill two smalls hole on each corner of each of the battery packs make sure the drill bit is just slightly wider than your #2 wood screw threads MIT Lincoln Laboratory 28
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-28 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Place the battery packs just below the solderless breadboard
Mount the battery packs to the wood block using your #2 wood screws drive screws into the wood through the mounting holes you drilled in the previous step MIT Lincoln Laboratory 29
make sure that the small power switch on the back side of each battery pack sits over the edge of the wood block
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-29 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Check to make sure the power switches are off for each battery pack
Insert 8 AA batteries into the battery packs
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-30 GLC 8/28/2012 30
use these switches to turn the radar on and off
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Fabrication
Place the lids on the battery packs Build the power supply circuit on the solderless breadboard from Slide #12 turn on both power switches on the battery packs using a volt meter verify +5V and +5V MIT Lincoln Laboratory 31
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-31 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Build Modulator1 from Slide #11 on the solderless
breadboard Test ramp output and synchronization output using an oscilloscope Using the oscilloscope adjust Modulator1 to 20 ms up-ramp time and 2-3.2V magnitude for ISM band chirp 32
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-32 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Fabrication
Build the active filter stage of Video Amp1 from Slide #10 on to the solderless breadboard test by connecting a sin wave generator to the input and a 2 channel scope to the output and input verify -3dB roll-off at 15 KHz and steeper roll-off above 15 KHz 33
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-33 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Fabrication
Build the gain stage of Video Amp1 from Slide #11 on to the solderless breadboard connect a function generator to the input and a 2 channel scope to both the input and output, verify gain if works, connect the output of the gain stage to the input of the active LPF MIT Lincoln Laboratory 34
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-34 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Solder power connections to the Vcc or +5 VDC pins on
OSC1, PA1, and LNA1 wire these to the output of the 5V regulator
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-35 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
35
Fabrication
Solder a ground wire to the ground terminal of one of the
microwave modules in this case, I have chosen PA1, but it does not matter which is chosen connect this ground wire to the ground bus on the solderless breadboard MIT Lincoln Laboratory 36
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-36 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Cut one of the SMA-SMA coaxial cables in half, this will be
used to feed the IF output of MXR1 to Video Amp1 on the solderless breadboard Strip the insulation off the end to the shield Strip off some shield to reveal the center conductor Strip off insulation from the semiconductor Solder a piece of single-stranded hook-up wire around the shield of the coax 37
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-37 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Fabrication
Thread the SMA to Video Amp1 cable onto the IF port of
MXR1 Connect the shield on the other end to the ground bus of the solderless breadboard Connect the center of the coax to the input to the Video Amp1 circuit MIT Lincoln Laboratory 38
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-38 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
When complete, the layout of the microwave components
should look like this (when using the correct power splitter) If available, connect a spectrum analyzer to the un-used output port of SPLTR1 to check transmit bandwidth MIT Lincoln Laboratory 39
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-39 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Mount Cantenna1 and Cantenna2 on to the wood block by
using two #6 wood screws in length, one for each L bracket these #6 wood screws are not in the BOM, however, they can be purchased at the Home Depot or any local hardware store MIT Lincoln Laboratory 40
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-40 GLC 8/28/2012
Fabrication
Connect the receive antenna by connecting the input to
LNA1 to Cantenna2 using an SMA-SMA coaxial cable Connect the transmit antenna by connecting the un-used output from SPLTR1 to Cantenna1 using an SMA-SMA coaxial cable
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-41 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
41
Fabrication
Connect the audio cable to the solderless breadboard
Once connected, wire tie the audio cable on to ATT1 so that
the audio cable will not be easily pulled out of the solderless breadboard 42
red = right channel is fed to the output of Video Amp1 white = left channel is fed to the Sync output of Modulator1 shield is connected to the ground bus of the solderless breadboard
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-42 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Fabrication
Radar kit is now complete Test by connecting a scope to the video output
If works, then follow the course material to perform
doppler velocity measurements range-time measurements SAR imaging
see if waveform output changes depending on what is in front of radar
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-43 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
43
Outline Motivation Fully Assembled Radar Kit
Block Diagram Schematics
Bill of Material (BOM)
Step-by-Step Fabrication Instructions How to use the radar MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-44 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
44
Radar Kit: Doppler vs. Time
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bias Vtune to CW (some DC value where you want your center frequency) Connect to audio input of laptop Open Sync Pulse Inhibit switch Deploy radar near moving targets Record .wav file of input audio Process using read_data_doppler.m parses .wav into 4410 sample blocks plots the log magnitude of the IDFT of each block Tremont street near Newton corner
FOV Radar Location
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-45 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
45
Radar Kit: Ranging vs. Time
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Re-connect Vtune to modulator output. Set up-ramp duration to 20 ms, adjust magnitude to span desired transmit bandwidth. Deploy radar Record a .wav file. Process .wav using read_data_RTI.m Looks for rising edges of sync pulse on Left channel Saves 20 ms of Right channel data from rising edge, puts into array of de-chirped range profiles Coherently subtracts the last range profile from the current one (2-pulse canceller) Displays the log magnitude of the IDFT of the result as a range-time-indicator (RTI) plot Trig Trig L R
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-46 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
46
2 targets walking in the woods
Radar Kit: SAR Imaging
Record .wav continuously record range Acquire range profiles at 2 profiles every 2 increments over 8-10 of aperture length Use toggle switch to blank L sync channel, indicating audio out to laptop change in radar position SBAND_RMA_opendata.m to process .wav file into SAR image, looking for gaps in sync pulses indicating new laptop radar position Next Pos Next Pos Next Pos
IAP radar
target scene of your choice
measuring tape MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-47 GLC 8/28/2012 47
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
SAR Example: Back of Warehouse
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-48 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
48
SAR Example: Back of Warehouse
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-49 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
49
SAR Example: Back of Warehouse
MIT IAP 2011 Radar Instructions-50 GLC 8/28/2012
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
50
MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu
Resource: Build a Small Radar System Capable of Sensing Range, Doppler, and Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging Dr. Gregory L. Charvat, Mr. Jonathan H. Williams, Dr. Alan J. Fenn, Dr. Steve Kogon, Dr. Jeffrey S. Herd
The following may not correspond to a particular course on MIT OpenCourseWare, but has been provided by the author as an individual learning resource.
For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.
