Module 4

Part 1: Tracking RADAR

Part 2: Sequential Lobing, Conical Scan

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Syllabus
 Tracking Radar
 A tracking-radar system measures the coordinates of a target and
provides data which may be used to determine the target path and
to predict its future position.
 The Radar, which is used to track the path of one or more targets is
known as Tracking Radar. In general, it performs the following
functions before it starts the tracking activity.
 Target detection
 Range of the target
 Finding elevation and azimuth angles
 Finding Doppler frequency shift
 As RADAR continues to observe a target over time, radar can provide
the target’s trajectory, or track, and predict where it will be in the future.
Tracking Radar
Tracking Radar
Tracking Radar
Tracking Radar
 Tracking Radar

3 parameters of tracking :
 Range --- distance

 Azimuth and elevation angle – direction of target

 Frequency drift – velocity of object
 Types of tracking methods

3 types of tracking methods:

 Sequential lobing
 Conical scan
 Monopulse tracking
Types of tracking Radar Systems

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
 Types of tracking Radar Systems

 Single Tgt Tracker (Stt)

 Automatic Detection & Track (Adt)
 Phased Array Radar Tracking
 Track While Scan (Tws)
 Types of tracking Radar Systems

SINGLE TGT TRACKER (STT)

 Tracks a single target at fast data rate.
 Typical data rate – 10 obs/sec. (for military guided missile weapon
control radar)
 Antenna beam of STT follows the target by obtaining an angle-error
signal and employing a closed loop servo system to keep the error
signal small.
 Application – tracking of aircraft/ missile targets in support of military
weapon-control system
Fixed site AN/FPQ-6 precision tracking radar
Fixed site AN/FPQ-6 precision tracking radar
 Types of tracking Radar Systems

AUTOMATIC DETECTION & TRACK (ADT)

 Tracking is part of air surveillance tracking radar.
 Obs. rate -- rotation rate of antenna (few seconds- 12 sec)
 ∴ Lower data rate than STT
 Can simultaneously track hundreds/ a few thousands of
targets (aircrafts)
 Application: found in almost all civil air-traffic control radars
and military air-surveillance radars.
 Types of tracking Radar Systems

PHASED ARRAY RADAR TRACKING

 Large no of targets can be held on track using electronically
steered phased array radar.
 Multiple targets are tracked on time shared basis under computer
control since the beam.
 Beam is electronically switched from one angular position to
another in a few microseconds
 High data rate ( like in STT ) and holds many targets in track (
like in ADT).
 Fig: C band multiple target tracking range instrumentation radar
called MOTR
Mobile AN/MPS-39 MOTR
Mobile AN/MPS-39 MOTR
PHASED ARRAY RADAR TRACKING
 Types of tracking Radar Systems

TRACK WHILE SCAN (TWS)

 Rapidly scans a limited angular sector to maintain tracks–
simultaneous track & search.
 Data rate : moderate
 Can track a number of targets. Equivalent of track while scan is
ADT
 TWS radar is used to rapidly scan a narrow angular sector, usually
in both azimith & elevation.
 Scanning can be performed with a single scanning, narrow
beamwidth pencil beam; or with two orthognal fan beams (one
for azimuth and the other for elevation)
 Angle tracking

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Angle tracking
 Angle Tracking

 To determine the direction in which the antenna beam needs to

be moved, a measurement has to be made at two different
positions.
 The above two beams are said to be squinted with a squint angle
± θq relative to boresight direction
 The crossover of two beams – boresight direction
 Beam should be moved to coincide boresight & target positions.
 θ0 should be in the direction of target angle θT .
 Early tracking radars used single time-shared beam to track in
two angles – known as conical scan or sequential lobing trackers
Angle tracking
Monopulse Tracking RADAR

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
 Monopulse Tracking

 A monopulse tracker is defined as one in which information

concerning angular location of target is obtained by comparison of
signals received in two or more simultaneous beams.
 Measurement of angle may be made on the basis of single pulse ---
hence the name monopulse.
 To increase Pd , accuracy of angle estimate and doppler resolution,
multiple pulses are usually employed
 Angle measurements are made based on signals that appear
simultaneously in more than one antenna beam – ∴ improved
accuracy.
 Monopulse Tracking

 Accuracy is not affected by amplitude fluctuations of target echo

 To develop an angle error signal in two orthogonal angle coordinates –
that mechanically drive the boresight of the tracking antenna.
 Methods by which angle measurements are made:
 1. Amplitude comparison monopulse
 2. Phase comparison monolpulse
Amplitude comparison monopulse
Amplitude comparison monopulse
Amplitude comparison monopulse
Amplitude comparison monopulse
Amplitude comparison monopulse
 Amplitude comparison monopulse

 The sign of the difference signal (and the direction of the angular error)
is determined by comparing the phase of the difference signal with the
phase of the sum signal.

 Sum signal in the IF portion of the receiver : As cos ωIF t

 Difference signal would be either : Ad cos ωIF t or - Ad cos ωIF t

 As> 0, Ad > 0

 Ad cos ωIF t = Ad cos ωIF (t + π)

 Sign of the difference signal may be measured by determining whether

the difference signal is in phase with the sum or 1800 out of phase.
Hybrid Junctions

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Hybrid junction- Magic Tee
Hybrid junction- Magic Tee
Rat-race coupler
Rat-race coupler
Directional Coupler
Directional Coupler
Directional Coupler
Monopulse Tracking in 2D

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Monopulse Tracking 2D
Monopulse Tracking 2D
monopulse tracking 2D
Phase comparison Monopulse

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Phase comparison Monopulse
Phase comparison Monopulse
Phase comparison Monopulse
Phase comparison Monopulse
Comparison
Sequential lobing

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Sequential lobing
Sequential lobing
 Sequential lobing

 The difference in amplitude between voltages obtained in

the two switched positions is a measure of the angular
displacement of the target from the switching axis.
 Observe which beam position has larger signal
 Two additional switching positions for angle measurement
in orthogonal coordinate  4 feed horns
Sequential lobing
Sequential lobing basic principle
Sequential lobing basic principle
 Sequential lobing

 The reflected signal from the target received in each of the

four lobes is routed via a channel switching assembly
sequentially switched into the receiver.
 In this way, each of the four lobe returns is measured and
error signals are derived to move the antenna
 5 feed horn  central feed for txn
 Right-up-left-down-right
 Sequential lobing

 4 horns and RF switches could be replaced by a single feed

that radiates a single beam squinted off axis.
 The squinted feed continuously rotating – for angle
measurement in 2D.
This is conical scan
 Sequential lobing basic principle

Problems:
 Angle of beam > angle of error

 So select pencil beam

 ----> then another problem: focus is decreased

 Only identifies direction, not position

Application:
 Ground based radar tracking system.
Conical scanning

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
Conical scanning Vs. Sequential lobing
Conical scan
 Conical scan

 One of the simplest conical-scan antennas is a parabola

with an offset rear feed rotated about the axis of the
reflector.
 If the feed maintains the plane of polarization fixed as it
rotates, it is called a nutating feed  requires a flexible
joint.
 A rotating feed causes the polarization to rotate 
requires a rotary joint.
 Nutating feed is preferred over rotating feed.
Conical scan
 Conical scan

 If the antenna is small, it may be easier to rotate the dish,

which is offset, rather than the feed, thus avoiding the
problem of a rotary or flexible RF joint in the feed.
 The same motor that provides the conical-scan rotation of
the antenna beam also drives a two-phase reference
generator with two outputs 90° apart in phase.
 These two outputs serve as a reference to extract the
elevation and azimuth errors.
 Conical scan

 One feature not found in other radar receivers is a means

of extracting the conical-scan modulation, or error signal.

 The error signal is compared with the elevation and

azimuth reference signals in the angle-error detectors,
which are phase-sensitive detectors.
Conical scan
TRACKING IN RANGE

T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor
ECE Dept. , CMRIT
 TRACKING IN RANGE

 As target speeds increase, it is increasingly difficult for an

operator to perform at the necessary levels of efficiency
over a sustained period of time, and automatic tracking
becomes a necessity.
 The technique for automatically tracking in range is based
on the split range gate.
 If the outputs of the two gates are subtracted, an error
signal will result which may be used to reposition the
center of the gates.
Split Range Gate
 Split Range Gate

 The magnitude of the error signal is a measure of the

difference between the center of the pulse and the center
of the gates.
 The sign of the error signal determines the direction.
 It isolates one target, excluding targets at other ranges.
 Range gating improves the signal-to-noise ratio since it
eliminates the noise from the other range intervals.
Range Glint
Range Glint
 Range Glint

 The error ΔTR due to the range glint in he measurement of

the time delay, relative to the center of the two scatterers is :
 T Ninikrishna
Asst. Professor, ECE Dept.
CMRIT , Bangalore