Reconfigurable Compact Range

The Institute maintains a Reconfigurable Compact Range for quantitative measurement of RF response of targets across a wide set of frequencies with full-polarimetric characterization.  The range has provided the Institute’s customers with data collection and analyses of RF systems in realistic and varied environments. MTRI's portable collection hardware allows for on-site collections with the same equipment used in the laboratory.

MTRI provides the expertise necessary to plan, collect and analyze measurements in-house, providing our customers with more than a characterization of a system:  Understanding of the physical mechanisms and sensitivities which underpin the results that lead to new solutions.

Collection Modes

MTRI has provided its customers with a variety of valuable data collections:

• High-Resolution Radar Imaging in clutter environments
• Ground Penetrating Radar
• Bistatic Imaging
• Through-Wall Imaging
• Passive Interferometric Imaging

The expertise of our staff and flexibility of our hardware allows for custom collections and analyses of targets and sensors.

For Additional Information

Joseph Burns, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
734.913.6857
joseph.burns@mtu.edu

Nikola Subotic, Ph.D.
Co-Director
734.913.6859
nikola.subotic@mtu.edu

Research and Development

• Tests of different GPR designs for ice penetration and sub-surface imaging
• Determining the electrical characteristics of concrete cores for studying weathering effects and moisture retention.
• Measuring custom GPR antenna characteristics

Customers

• DARPA
• US ARMY – TARDEC
• US AFRL
• Michigan Department of Transportation
  

Example Collection Campaigns

• Supporting the development of through-wall imaging algorithms, MTRI designed experiments and collected data in its compact range to measure attenuation, delay and dispersive effects of building materials.
• Supporting algorithm development to detect urban weapons, MTRI planned experiments for laboratory and realistic field collections.  Laboratory measurements, with static clutter, were used to mitigate risk and provide initial datasets.  MTRI then deployed equipment and staff to a remote MOUT training facility, and successfully collected more than 26,000 range profiles, satisfying all principal objectives of the program

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