FAROS-E : a compact and low-cost millimeter wave surveillance radar for real time drone detection and classification

Abstract

This paper describes the system architecture and performance of the FAROS-E 77 GHz radar designed and built at the University of St Andrews for real time drone detection and classification (drone vs non-drone). The motivation behind the system is to demonstrate a highly reliable drone classification sensor for security surveillance in a compact, low-cost and potentially portable form factor. The low phase noise, coherent architecture exploits the high Doppler sensitivity available at millimeter wave frequencies, to enable robust micro-Doppler signature analysis and classification. Outdoor trials of FAROS-E have yielded high fidelity data and shown very promising results as a short-range system capable of detecting a DJI Phantom Standard 3 up to similar to 300 m and classifying it up to similar to 150 m. The classification algorithm is capable of classifying the presence of a drone even when it is hovering stationary.