Broad band RF module of millimeter wave radar network for airport FOD detection system

Foreign Objects and Debris (FODs) must be removed from runways. With the necessity of automatic continuous survey, we are investigating a new FOD detection system based on a millimeter wave radar network. This paper describes the concept of this FOD detection system and the Radio Frequency (RF) module for this application. In order to minimize cost and size, we installed a broadband FMCW radar using commercial Millimeter wave Monolithic ICs (MMICs) to improve range resolution, with a performance of a 5 GHz bandwidth at the 76 GHz band. We also present the results of practical tests and field tests at Sendai airport using 500 MHz FM deviation. The results indicated that it was sufficient to detect −20 dBsm FODs using low power MMW radar.