Methods and systems for generating virtual radar targets
This application is directed to a virtual radar target generator and a method of operating thereof. The virtual radar target generator includes a transceiver and a controller coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver includes a transmission antenna and is adapted to receive a signal transmitted from a radar antenna, store signal information representative of the received signal within a digital radio frequency memory, and transmit an output signal representative of a virtual target such that at least a fraction of the output is received by the radar antenna. The transmission antenna and the radar antenna are positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by a radome. The transmission antenna transmits the output signal toward the radome such that at least a fraction of the output signal is reflected toward the radar antenna.
1. A virtual radar target generator, comprising:
a transceiver and a controller coupled to the transceiver,
wherein the transceiver is adapted to receive a signal transmitted from a radar antenna, store signal information representative of the received signal within a digital radio frequency memory and transmit an output signal representative of a virtual target such that at least a fraction of the output signal is received by the radar antenna;
wherein the controller is adapted to determine a timing of the transmission of the output signal in response to a virtual distance between the virtual target and the radar antenna, a required virtual target direction and direction information representative of a direction of the radar antenna;
wherein the transceiver further comprises a transmission antenna, the transmission antenna and the radar antenna being positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by a radome, and
wherein the transmission antenna transmits the output signal towards the radome such that at least a fraction of the output signal is reflected towards the radar antenna.
2. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is an airborne transceiver and wherein the radar antenna is an airborne antenna.
3. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises a reception antenna; wherein the reception antenna and the radar antenna are positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by the radome.
4. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to transmit multiple signals representative of multiple virtual targets.
5. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission and/or receiving antenna is connected to the radome or anywhere within a near-field of the radar antenna.
6. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission antenna is placed beyond the radar antenna.
7. The virtual target generator according to claim 1 , further adapted to generate virtual targets that perform movements that have a tangential component in relation to the radar antenna.
8. A method for simulating virtual targets, comprising:
receiving a signal transmitted from a radar antenna;
storing signal information representative of the received signal within a digital radio frequency memory;
receiving direction information representative of a direction of the radar antenna;
determining a timing of a transmission of an output signal representative of a virtual target in response to a virtual distance between the virtual target and the radar antenna, a required virtual target direction and the received direction information; and
transmitting, in response to the determining of the timing, the output signal such that at least a fraction of the output signal is received by the radar antenna;
wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the output signal by a transmission antenna;
wherein the transmission antenna and the radar antenna are positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by a radome; and
wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the output signal towards the radome such that at least a fraction of the output signal is reflected towards the radar antenna.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the output signal by an airborne transceiver.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting multiple signals representative of multiple virtual targets.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the determining of the timing is responsive to a required virtual movement that comprises a tangential component in relation to the radar antenna.
12. A virtual radar target generator, comprising:
a transceiver and a controller coupled to the transceiver;
wherein the transceiver comprises a transmission antenna, and the transceiver is adapted to receive, via a radio frequency coupler, a portion of a radio frequency signal to be transmitted by a radar antenna, store signal information representative of the received signal within a digital radio frequency memory, and transmit an output signal representative of a virtual target such that at least a fraction of the output is received by the radar antenna;
wherein the controller is adapted to determine a timing of the transmission of the output signal in response to a virtual distance between the virtual target and the radar antenna, a required virtual target direction and direction information representative of a direction of the radar antenna;
wherein the transmission antenna and the radar antenna are positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by a radome; and
wherein the transmission antenna transmits the output signal towards the radome such that at least a fraction of the output signal is reflected towards the radar antenna.
13. The virtual target generator according to claim 12 , wherein the transceiver is an airborne transceiver and wherein the radar antenna is an airborne antenna.
14. The virtual target generator according to claim 12 , wherein the system is adapted to transmit multiple signals representative of multiple virtual targets.
15. The virtual target generator according to claim 12 , further adapted to generate virtual targets that perform movements that have a tangential component in relation to the radar antenna.
16. A method for simulating virtual targets, comprising:
receiving, via a radio frequency coupler, a portion of a radio frequency signal to be transmitted by a radar antenna;
storing signal information representative of the received signal within a digital radio frequency memory;
receiving direction information representative of a direction of the radar antenna;
determining a timing of a transmission of an output signal representative of a virtual target in response to a virtual distance between the virtual target and the radar antenna, a required virtual target direction and the received direction information; and
transmitting, in response to the determining of the timing, the output signal such that at least a fraction of the output signal is received by the radar antenna;
wherein the transmission antenna and the radar antenna are positioned within a space that is at least partially defined by a radome; and
wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the output signal towards the radome such that at least a fraction of the output signal is reflected towards the radar antenna.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the output signal by an airborne transceiver.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting multiple signals representative of multiple virtual targets.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the determining of the timing is responsive to a required virtual movement that comprises a tangential component in relation to the radar antenna.