Design of Modular FMCW Radar and Quantization of Its Range Error

Abstract

This study presents experimental analysis of range error of modular FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) radar operating at C-band. As FMCW utilizes frequency modulation, it can measure both range and speed of targets. One of the problems arising in the design of modular FMCW radar is error due to time delays in components and/or modules (Modular Component Delay-MCD). Then, MCD is taken into account to improve the accuracy of range measurement, and range error is quantized. This form of time delay causes frequency offset in measured beat frequency resulting in range error. Therefore, the resulting frequency offset of the radar is estimated and quantized experimentally. In this way, a mean error of about 11cm was achieved within 9m range measurements for C Band modular FMCW radar.