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DIY Synthetic Aperture Radar

Posted by kdawson on from the be-the-first-on-your-block dept.

An anonymous reader lets us know about a DIY synthetic aperture radar built for $240 in parts (give or take). Here's PDF slideware from the Ph.D. student's research. "Using a discarded garage door opener, an old cordless drill, and a collection of surplus microwave parts, a high resolution X-band linear rail synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system was developed for approximately $240 material cost. Entry into the field of radar cross section measurements or SAR algorithm development is often difficult due to the cost of high-end precision pulsed IF or other precision radar test instruments."

9 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Crooks by rrhal · · Score: 2, Informative

    TFA is and abstract to a paper and some links. He's generating his synthetic aperture by moving the radar head on a rail (modified garage door opener style). I was curious how he went about getting the necessary motion.

    --
    All generalizations are false, including this one. Mark Twain
  2. Old? by b00fhead · · Score: 2, Informative

    This seems to be from 2006/7...

    1. Re:Old? by stewbee · · Score: 4, Informative

      You're right. I know the author of the slides. This was part of his PhD disertation. He graduated about 2-3 years ago. He just recently posted the "how to" on his blogspot page this week.

  3. A lot more than 240 by apepooooop · · Score: 5, Informative

    "A National Instruments PCI-6014 data acquisition card triggers radar pulses and digitizes the video data". http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/11442 With a $700 (not counting accessories) data acquisition card.

    1. Re:A lot more than 240 by chill · · Score: 3, Informative

      $150 to $450 on EBay, but still your point is valid.

      --
      Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
    2. Re:A lot more than 240 by Alex+Belits · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not counting computer, Windows, Labview and Matlab.

      If anything, someone concerned with the cost would try to exclude the last two, as they alone make it more expensive than "high-cost" radars.

      --
      Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
  4. $240 for them, but not for me by coolsnowmen · · Score: 2, Informative

    That total cost of 240$ is based on them acquiring used material at a radio swap meet, not scavenging it from old stuff I could find in my attic, and definitely no buying from some online supplier. That is, w/o a lot of luck, time, and knowledge- there is no way I could duplicate this effort with ease.

  5. Re:SAR is really cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Found it: http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/winner-radio-eye-in-the-sky

  6. Re:Got all the microwave parts at hamfests? by stewbee · · Score: 2, Informative

    I actually know the author and I know how he came across the Bridgeport and test equipment. First, I will say that he did his PhD work at Michigan State, not at MIT. He does work for MIT Lincoln Labs, hence the MIT moniker everywhere. He acquired his test equipment usually from things like the Dayton Hamvention. I even picked up an oscilloscope myself there for about $50 when I went with him one year. As for the Bridgeport, he know of a machine shop that was getting rid of two Bridgeports. I think he offered them a small sum of money as long as he came to haul them away. Him and and another friend of mine then became owners of their very own milling machines.

    However, I will admit that this is certainly beyond the capabilities of most people due to the lack test equipment that is needed to even test the parts found at the swap meat.