Mine detection using radar vibrometer
View Patent ↗A frequency-stepped radar may be used to detect buried landmines by sequentially inducing vibrations of different frequencies in the landmine. A sensor detects signals associated with the vibrations, and a processor processes the signals to detect the landmine.
1. A method comprising:
using a frequency-stepped radar to sequentially induce vibrations of different frequencies in a landmine;
detecting electromagnetic signals associated with the vibrations; and
processing the detected electromagnetic signals to detect the landmine, the processing including measuring a peak of a processed signal to determine vibration displacement.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing, from the detected signals, signal components related to frequency clutter that is not associated with a buried landmine.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing detected signals from all frequencies to reduce speckle effects.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the determined vibration displacement to an audible signal.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying whether the determined vibration displacement is consistent with a landmine.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein identifying whether the determined vibration displacement is consistent with a landmine comprises:
comparing the determined vibration displacement with a previously determined vibration displacement; and
identifying that the determined vibration displacement is consistent with a landmine in response to a result of the comparison that exceeds a threshold difference.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting an audible signal when a landmine is detected.
8. A system comprising:
a frequency-stepped radar configured to induce vibrations in a landmine using different frequencies;
a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic signals associated with the vibrations; and
a processor configured to process the detected electromagnetic signals to detect the landmine, the processor being further configured to measure a peak of a processed signal to determine vibration displacement.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a metal detection sensor configured to detect metal.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to remove, from the detected signals, signal components related to frequency clutter that is not associated with a buried landmine.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to process detected signals from all frequencies to reduce speckle effects.
12. The system of claim 8 the processor is further configured to convert the determined vibration displacement to an audible signal.
13. The system of claim 8 the processor is further configured to identify whether the determined vibration displacement is consistent with a landmine.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
compare the determined vibration displacement with a previously determined vibration displacement; and
identify that the determined vibration displacement is consistent with a landmine in response to a result of the comparison that exceeds a threshold difference.
15. The system of claim 8 the processor is further configured to present an audible signal when a landmine is detected.