How to Calibrate Radar Target Simulation Test Setups

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Handheld Microwave Analyzer
+ Handheld Microwave Analyzer
Handheld Microwave Analyzer
+ Handheld Microwave Analyzer

Performing radar sensor testing using OTA loss calibration

Testing radar sensors in manufacturing facilities requires a controlled test environment. Manufacturers must align and calibrate the over-the-air (OTA) test setup to achieve optimal accuracy. Radar sensors undergoing performance tests must achieve precise radar azimuth angle measurements as fine as 0.1 degrees at long ranges. Ensuring that the radar sees the intended target area requires careful consideration of the radar cross-section (RCS) parameter. Issues can result from horn antenna gain flatness, the co-polarization angle between the radar and horn antenna, and mismatches in the conductive path between the horn antenna and the radar target simulator (RTS). To account for these uncertainties, manufacturers must calibrate for OTA path loss.

In lab or manufacturing settings, setting up radar target simulation requires OTA calibration to ensure accurate RCS measurements. Manufacturers must obtain an RTS with a remote front end and maintain a tight tolerance for mechanical alignments, including the use of an alignment laser. To ensure precise calibration, use a receiver calibrator equipped with a characterized standard gain horn (SGH) antenna to transmit a known output source. Position the SGH antenna surface at the rotation axis with the same polarization as the radar sensor under test. When paired with a standardized handheld signal analyzer, an RTS with a built-in calibration utility simplifies the execution and storage of all path loss calibration data.

OTA calibration solution for radar target simulation setups

Achieving optimal radar sensor test accuracy requires aligning and calibrating the RTS test setup. The Keysight OTA calibration solution for RTS setups ensures precise OTA path loss calibration and provides stored path loss information for the Keysight radar target simulator. For mechanical alignments, the radar target simulator features a remote front end equipped with an alignment laser that maintains a tight tolerance of ±5 mm at a 1 m distance. The Keysight RCal receiver calibrator enables millimeter-wave generation up to 110 GHz, eliminating the need for complex and expensive test equipment for OTA path calibration. The radar target simulator includes a built-in calibration utility, simplifying the collection and storage of all path loss calibration data when used with the Keysight handheld signal analyzer.
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