SHORT-RANGE FMCW X-BAND RADAR PLATFORM FOR MILLIMETRIC DISPLACEMENTS MEASUREMENT

A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) X-band radar platform for millimetric displacements measurement of short-range targets is presented in this paper. The platform's transceiver is based on a heterodyne architecture because the beat frequency is relatively small for short-range targets and it can be placed in the frequency range influenced by the specific homodyne architecture problems: DC offset, self-mixing and 1/f noise. The platform's displacement measurement capability was tested on range profiles and SAR images acquired for various targets. The displacements were computed from the interferometric phase. The measurement errors were situated below 0.1 mm for metal bar targets placed at a few meters from the radar.