User's Manual

FOD Finder Radar Calibration and Verification

The FOD Finder XF radar requires an initial calibration to operate at optimum

performance. The calibration procedure measures the relative response, in phase

and amplitude, of all transmit and receive channel combinations in use by the radar.

This calibration data is collected by acquiring radar data from a single, strong return

source placed in the radar far-field, such as a corner cube, and is measured at twelve

different frequencies across the radar band. The calibration data is then stored on

the internal radar processor and applied to all radar signals during operation to

produce a high-gain beam shape. Importantly, this calibration is applied at the data

processing level and does not require any adjustment of the radar system hardware.

Data for a new calibration can be generated by observing radar returns from a

known target and a new calibration can be applied simply by re-writing the

calibration file on the radar.

The FOD Finder radar is fully calibrated at the factory and then an additional

calibration is performed on site at the time of installation. Calibration is verified by

measuring the return signal from a radar target with a known radar cross-section.

The system continues to automatically update its phase calibration during its

operation based on the data returns from fixed objects within the radar field-of-

view, comparing the returns from those objects at the time of installation to the

returns from those objects at the present time. No input is required by the operator

for the calibration update to occur.