Microwave Distance Sensor

Randy Shirts
ECE 5320
Mechatronics Assignment #1
 Outline
• Reference list
• Major Applications
• Basic principle
• Typical configuration
• Specifications
• Limitations
• Choosing a sensor
• Cost & Availability
 Reference List
• www.radatec.com/radatec/products2.html
• www.sensorsmag.com/articles/1299/50_1299/main.shtml
• www.sensorsmag.com/articles/1299/34_1299/main.shtml
• data.engin.umich.edu/faculty_staff/faculty/Ruf/index.html
• ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/fundam/chapter3/01_e.php
• www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/~research/tutorial/mw.htm
• nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/nsidc0165_clpx_gbmr/
 Further References
• http://ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/funda
m/chapter3/01_e.php
• http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/~research/tutor
ial/mw.htm
• http://www.radatec.com
• www.sensorsmag.com/articles/1299/34_12
99/main.shtml
 Major Applications
Active Sensors Passive Sensors
• When the distance between • Meteorology
sensor and the measuring • Hydrology
surface are large. Such as train • Oceanography
speed control and heavy
equipment testing
• Vehicle speed and position
• In very harsh conditions. Such
as a distance measurement in an
engine
 Basic Working Principle
• Active Sensors (Close Range)
• Active Sensors (Long Range)
• Passive Sensors
 Active Sensors
(Large Distances)
• Noncontact microwave
sensors, or radar, sensors
are based on the Doppler
effect. Using the
frequency shift of a wave
reflected from a moving
surface, microwave
sensors are able to
calculate speed and
distance.
 Active Sensors
(Small Distances)
• The schematic below shows how the technology works.
• First, a radio wave is emitted from the microwave sensor and impinges on the
vibrating object.
• The signal is reflected and sensed in the radio receiver embedded in the sensor.
• This signal is then acted on by specialized electronics and an algorithm that
converts the electrical signal to a calibrated measure of displacement.
• The measured distances resulting from these techniques are on the order of
microns, not miles.
 Passive Sensors
• All objects emit microwave energy of some
magnitude, but the amounts are generally
very small. A passive microwave sensor
detects the naturally emitted microwave
energy within its field of view. This emitted
energy is related to the temperature and
moisture properties of the emitting object or
surface. Passive microwave sensors are
typically radiometers or scanners and operate
in much the same manner as active
microwave sensors except that an antenna is
used to detect and record the microwave
energy.
• The microwave energy recorded by a passive
sensor can be emitted by the atmosphere (1),
reflected from the surface (2), emitted from
the surface (3), or transmitted from the
subsurface (4). Because the wavelengths are
so long, the energy available is quite small
compared to optical wavelengths. Thus, the
fields of view must be large to detect enough
energy to record a signal. Most passive
microwave sensors are therefore
characterized by low spatial resolution.
 Aircraft Turbine Health
Monitoring
• Waveforms of blade profile, comprised of distance measurements across blade tip as it
passes the sensor at 18,000 rpm.
• The R2000 Displacement Sensor measures displacement by launching a continuous-
wave microwave signal towards a target of interest and comparing the received signal
with the transmitted signal.
• The sensor extracts information on the target movement from the return signal.
• The first figure represents profiles of blade
taken over time. The variability in blade
length for this blade is representative of
normal blades.
• The second figure represents a blade with an
abnormal amount of length variability due to
previously undetectable fatigue in the blade
root.
• This system is used to predict failures in
turbine blades, disks, and rotors for jet
aircraft turbines. The environment involves
blades rotating at 18,000 rpm within flaming
natural gas, carbon, oil and other
contaminants. The system employed is
comprised of the 2000∫F high temp
cylindrical probe, nickel alloy cable, and high
speed data acquisition electronics. For this
application, the system takes data at 25 MHz
and provides a data point every 0.0007î
across each blade on each revolution. These
data-rich waveforms enable maintenance
personnel to predict blade creep fatigue,
blade cracking, disk cracking, and other
catastrophic failures
 Microwave Motion Sensors for

Off-Road Vehicle Velocity Data and Collision Avoidance

• Ground Speed Measurement The
conventional way to determine ground speed
is to measure a wheel's rotational velocity
and compute the speed based on the
circumference of the tire. There are two
problems with this method. First, calibration
depends on the type and age of the tire;
second, wheel slippage depends on soil
conditions and the load on the vehicle. Wheel
slippage can average 20%--25% in the field,
although 11%--14% is optimum for the stress
on the vehicle and soil compaction [2]. To
help tractor operators optimize vehicle
performance, John Deere has developed a
unit that incorporates a microwave sensor
with a wheel tachometer to calculate wheel
slippage. This unit also provides true ground
speed. According to an extensive study by
California Polytechnic State University at
San Luis Obispo, there is no correlation
between wheel slippage and true ground
speed [3].
Environmental Specifications. Any sensor designed to be used in the
agricultural environment must meet stringent specifications for
resistance to vibration, salt spray, high humidity, fertilizers,
pesticides, and so on. A group of specifications has been
developed to address this requirement , among them:
• Operating voltage: 10 VDC–16 VDC
• Power consumption: <500 mA
• Operating temperature: –40°C to 85°C
• Overvoltage: 24 VDC
• Reverse protection: –24 VDC
• Dust: Per SAE J1211
• Salt spray: 48 hr
• Mechanical shock: 25 shocks at 23 g 27
• Mechanical vibration: Mil Std 202E, Method 201A
• Humidity: Per SAE J1211
• EMC emissions: FFC part 15
Microwave Sensors Microwave velocity sensors successfully meet
these specifications. They are unaffected by environmental
conditions and provide a reliable measure of true ground speed
by using the Doppler principle. The Doppler frequency, which
is proportional to velocity, is given by the formula:
• Fd = (2FoVcos(theta) ) / c                     
• Fd = Doppler frequency
• Fo = microwave oscillator frequency
• V = vehicle horizontal velocity
• c = speed of light
• theta = angle between sensor and ground
• Assuming a microwave oscillator frequency of 24.125 GHz
gives:
Fd = 160.83 V/cos(theta) in Hz/M/s                        (2)
• 24.125 GHz was chosen as the microwave oscillator for several
reasons:
• Transceivers based on this frequency are used in microwave
door openers and are available in quantity at a reasonable price.
• 24.125 GHz transceivers are already qualified to, and comply
with, FCC regulations. In other words, operators are not
required to obtain a separate license for each unit.
• The frequency simplifies fabricating a narrow-beam antenna,
which reduces errors caused by beam dispersion. A frequency
of 10.525 GHz could also have been used. Although it is less
expensive, it must be physically larger to achieve the same
performance.
 TOPEX Altimeter Sensor/Instrument
• TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) is a joint
NASA/CNES mission which images
global distributions of sea level with
unprecedented accuracy and precision. 
The primary instruments are radar
altimeters designed to determine the
radial distance between the satellite and
the ocean surface by a precise
measurement of the round trip time of
flight of the radar signal. This distance
can be translated into a measurement of
the sea level along the T/P ground track
given accurate knowledge of the
location of the satellite in earth orbit. 
Critical to the success of the mission are
corrections for the variable propagation
delay caused by the intervening
atmosphere.  The correction for
columnar water vapor are measured by
the TOPEX Microwave Radiometer
 Major Specifications
Close Active
• Range(0.01” to 2.0”)
• Resolution ±0.0004 inches
• Linearity±0.75% (Deviation-from-straight-line)
• Power +12 VDC (2A)
• Operating Temperature
Probes: Up to 2000° F
RF Module: 0 to 185° F
Teflon Coaxial Cable: 350° F
Mineral Insulated Coaxial Cable: 1500° F
• Humidity
0 to 100% non-condensing
• Contaminant Immunity
Immune to dust, dirt, oil, and other industrial debris
• EMI
Immune to EMI
Typical Long Range Active
• Min-Max Speed: 3 to 309 mph
• Accuracy: 1%
• Power Output: 5 mW
• Power Required: 10 to 26
VDC, 3 W
• Size/Weight: 4 × 4 × 8 inches/2
lbs.
Typical Passive Sensors
• Frequencies: 1 to 100 GHz
• Measurement Range: 0 Km to
350 Km
• Absolute Accuracy: 0.5 K, 0.4
K (RMS) over 10 minutes/ea
• Resolution: 0.3 Km min
• Antenna Beam Width: 10 deg.
(FWHM)
• Beam Efficiency: 98% min
• Cross Polarization: 0.1% max
• Sidelobe level: -40 dBi max
• Polarization: V & H (23.8 GHz
only V)
• IF Bandwidth: 200 MHz
 Active Sensor Limitations
Close Range Long Range
• Offered by only one • Possible health problems
company related to electromagnetic
• Work only with vibrating radiation (not proven yet)
objects • Wet surfaces cause
problems because of the
dielectric constant
• The geometric shape of
the reflective surface may
cause error (can be limited
by signal processing)
 Passive Sensor Limitations
• Physical factors such as the dielectric constant of
the surface materials which also depends strongly
on the moisture content
• Geometric factors such as surface roughness,
slopes, orientation of the objects relative to the
radar beam direction
• The types of landcover (soil, vegetation or man-
made objects)
• Microwave frequency, polarisation and incident
angle all aaffect the output
 Choosing a Sensor
Active Close Range Active Long Range
• Contact Radatec • Determine the range
• Determine the range • Operating frequency
needed • Temperature requirements
• Optional features • Power consumption
 Opto-isolated digital inputs • Signal processing
 Relay outputs
elements
 Data memory
 Clock
 Where to Buy
• Active Close Range – Radatec
 www.radatec.com
• Active Long Range
 Search www.globalspec.com for proximity or
velocity microwave sensors