Publication: Frequency-modulated continuous wave radar analysis for target identification using micro doppler signature.
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Date
2026-04
Authors
Sathiswaran A/L Muniandy
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Abstract
This thesis presents the designing and development of a Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar system for the detection and classification of multiple targets, particularly humans and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in short range environments. FMCW radar is widely adopted due to its low power consumption, continuous transmission, and suitability for compact sensing applications; however, accurate discrimination between different moving targets remains challenging, especially when micro-Doppler characteristics are not fully exploited. To address this gap, this work proposes a signal processing framework focused on extracting and analysing Doppler and micro-Doppler signatures for improved target classification. A MATLAB-based simulation is first developed to model the FMCW radar operation followed by a prototype FMCW radar operating at 3.4 GHz is subsequently designed and validated through experimental measurements using human motion and UAV targets. The system achieves accurate range estimation up to 3.9 m and successfully captures distinct micro-Doppler signatures, with human motion reaching a maximum velocity of 1.04 m/s and UAV propeller rotation producing characteristic spectral patterns. This study provides key insights into the radar’s detection capabilities and lays the groundwork for further improvements in signal processing and hardware design for micro-UAV classification and detection in real-world scenarios.