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Targets Signals Simulation in Radar System

Working Paper · November 2017

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25894.63045

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 International Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering (IJESE)
ISSN: 2319–6378, Volume-2, Issue-1


Targets Signals Simulation in Radar System

Dr. Mahmod A. Al-Zubaidy, Samaa K. Al-Saffar

Abstract— Radar system has many applications in the military While continuous wave radars are divided into continuous
and civilian fields; it is utilized for targets detection, obtaining the wave and FM continuous wave (FM-CW) radars. Continuous
range, the direction, altitude and velocity (for moving target).
wave radar, which is used in tracking radar, only Doppler shift
These information can be extracted from target signal. Target
effects on the transmitted signal, such effects are delayed and (target’s radial velocity) and angular position can be
Doppler shift for moving targets. Generally, the development of determined. Continuous wave radar transmits a continuous
radar systems and radar signal processing are always in progress wave with unmodulated carrier frequency, while in FM
and real radar systems are not always available for testing these continuous wave signal, the frequency is varying sweep
developments. This work required computer simulators which are (chirp), sine wave, saw tooth modulation with the time that is
used to test the modification and development of these systems. In
this paper, the two types of targets (moving and fixed) signals are
utilized to measure the range.
simulated. In order to implement the target block, the transmitted Many signals are used to arrange the operation of the radar
signals and antenna location signals must be generated as inputs system. Some of these signals are generated within the radar
to target block. The target block is simulated using MATLAB system itself such as transmitted signal, Clock Pulse signal
Simulink, this block is designed by specifying the parameters of (ACP) and North Pulse signal (NP). The other signals are
target block such as the velocity, range, azimuth of a target
coming as a response of the generated signals such as target
(direction), the direction of the target movement angle and
wavelength. This block is tested for all different types of radars signal. This signal is returned from the target as echo, that is,
such as pulse radar, pulse compression radar, continuous wave may be either pulse modulated with carrier signal or
radar and frequency modulation continuous wave (FM-CW) continuous wave (CW) signal depending on the transmitted
radar. signal. In the pulse radar, it utilized to measure the range that
can be found from the delay between the transmitted and echo
Index Terms—radar system, target signal simulation, Doppler
signal, the radial velocity of target can be found from Doppler
effect, radar signals.
shift. The echo signal for continuous wave radar will return
I. INTRODUCTION with Doppler shift for not fixed target that can be used to
measure the radial velocity [4].
The development of radar systems requires advanced
simulation and measurement techniques in order to ensure the II. TARGET EFFECTS ON THE TRANSMITTED SIGNAL
performance specifications. MATLAB tools were used to
build radars simulators for different purposes such as, The target causes many effects on the reflected signal that
carried the specification or behavior of the target. These
implementation of a radar system to classify moving vehicles
impacts can be detected by comparing the reflected signal
[1]. MATLAB has many features such as interactive mode,
with the original transmitted signal.
built-in functions and the ability to add user written functions
therefore MATLAB is becoming widely used among A. Delay Effect
students, researchers and engineers [2]. Delay ( t ) is the time between the transmitted signal of
d
Radar system can be classified into many types based on the
radar and receiving of the corresponding echo. Target range,
specific radar characteristics, such as the frequency band, type
of antenna, jobs and signals utilized [3]. Therefore, radar
R , can be calculated as [5]:
systems are classified into two groups according to the types R  c td (1)
of transmitted signals: continuous wave (CW) and pulse 2
radars, each type of radar system can be classified depending Where c is the velocity of light and it is equal to 3x108
on the desired application. m/sec. Therefore the final equation is shown as:
The transmitted signal for pulse radars are divided into pulse
modulated with the fixed carrier frequency signal that is used R  150 t d (  sec) (2)
to measure the range and radial velocity and pulse modulated
with compression carrier such as linear frequency modulation B. Doppler Effect
(LFM) that is used to improve the range resolution of the The Doppler effect can be defined as the change in
radar. frequency of a received signal when there is a relative
movement between the transmitter and the receiver. In radar,
the moving target reflects the carrier frequency f of
r
Manuscript received November 24, 2013
Dr. Mahmod A. Al-Zubaidy, Communications Department, Mosul
received signal, differs from the transmitted signal with f .
0
University/ College of Electronics Engineering, Mosul, Iraq.).
In the case of moving target and the stationary radar, the
Samaa k. Al-Saffar, Communications Department, Mosul University/
College of Electronics Engineering, Mosul, Iraq. relation between f and f can be given as;
0 r

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 Targets Signals Simulation in Radar System

 vr  (3) 2. Noise Effect

1  c 
f  f  
r 0
1  vr  Noise is an unwanted signal with random specifications that
 c 
effects on the amount of the power received signal. The
Where v is the target radial velocity (along the line
r
detection of the target cannot be recognized between the
connecting the radar and target), v r
 V cos  , where V is clutter and the target, caused by the effect of the noise, also
the velocity of a moving target and  is the angle between the the noise effected on the range resolution for targets.
track of the target and the line of sight from the radar. If the Generally, the noise is classified as target noise (caused by
difference is denoted as the Doppler frequency, f  f  f ,
d r 0 radar target, its shape and motion peculiarities), external
the Doppler frequency will be obtained as: (environmental) noise (caused by the environment in which
 vr  (4) radar signal propagates such as path loss) or internal noise
1  c 
f  f   1
d 0
1  v r  (caused by radar hardware, primarily by the antenna and the
 c 
receiver and each part of radar system such as noise figure)
And f  0 for v r
 0 (increasing range). Since the target [5].
d

velocities are always much less than the velocity of light, III. TARGET SIGNAL
vr  c , so the equation (4) can be expended into a series: The target signal is the returned signal as an echo from the

 2vr  .....  1   

f 2cv   2vr 
(5)
f  f 1  2
r target. It has the same specifications of transmitted signal but
d 0

 c 0   return with a delay, distortion, noise, attenuation and a
Where λ is the wavelength of the transmitted signal. Doppler shift for moving target and contains many
The form of the equation (5) is mostly used in radar information that gives indication about the target such as the
applications. This formula is valid for active radar, where range, direction ( elevation and azimuth ) and radial velocity
the Doppler shift results from changes in the two-way path [4].
as the target moves. For passive radar:
The target signal can be represented by either radio frequency
f  v d
r (6) (RF) or intermediate frequency (IF) (30 or 60MHz). Also it
can be represented as video signal in the phase detector circuit
because the shift applies only for the one-way path. in radar receiver part. The video signal in the pulse radar will
The Doppler effect has fundamental importance in radar be appeared butterfly in the phase detector for the moved
applications, where it is used to determine target radial target but for the fixed target signal, the relative phase of
velocity and to discriminate among moving targets and consecutive received pulses does not change in the output of
clutter [5]. the phase detector as shown in figure (1) [4] ,[6].

C. Others Effects In radar system, the target appeared on display radar with
different forms according to the application in radar. The
There are other effects that are not taken into consideration plan-position indicator ( PPI) display of radar shows the
in this paper; these effects are: targets as an arc in the specific azimuth and direction as
shown in figure (2-A).There are also many other displays such
1. Target Cross Section Area Effect as A-display in which targets appear as vertical deflections
from a horizontal line representing a time base, but in the
Cross section area (σ) is a one of the parameters that B-display in which each target appears as an
characterize the target. This parameter will effect on the intensity-modulated blip, with azimuth indicated by the
horizontal coordinate and range by the vertical coordinate as
amount of the power received signal where σ is the measure
shown in figure (2-B) and (2-C) [5].
of a target's ability to reflect radar signals in the direction of
the radar receiver, the radar equation explains this effect
[4]:

 (7)
2
pGG

t r
p r
t

(4 ) R 3 4

Where:
p = Receiver power signal.
r

p = Transmitted power signal.

t

 = Cross-section area.
G G = Antenna gain.
t r

 = Wavelength.
R = The distance of target. Fig.1 The video signal (the output of the phase detector in the
time domain).

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 International Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering (IJESE)
ISSN: 2319–6378, Volume-2, Issue-1

2*r
  2 (8)

Where  = the phase angle.
The fourth part of the target signal generation block is the
target Doppler effected block that will be affected by the
increasing or decreasing from the carrier frequency of the
transmitted signal. The Doppler effect will be influenced by
the velocity, the direction of the target movement angle and
wavelength of transmitting signal. Therefore, The Doppler
effect will be specified by the target block parameters which
(A) (B) (C) are the velocity, azimuth of a target, and wavelength of the
Fig. 2 PPI display, A- and B-displays. transmitted signal.
In MATLAB Simulink, the equation (9) explains the principle
IV. TARGET SIGNAL GENERATION BLOCK IN that will be accredited in the simulation to change the
MATLAB frequency and phase of the transmitted signal according to the
Target signal generation block can be divided in to five parts Doppler shift:
as shown in Figure (3). sin(( y  x)t   )  sin( xt ) cos( y   )  sin( yt   ) cos( xt ) (9)
Where:
x = transmitted signal frequency.
y = the Doppler shift.
The final part represents the switch decision that will decide
where the target will appear or disappear at the time according
to the range and azimuth for this target. This part will be
simulated as IF statement.
All target signal generation simulation parts will be integrated
in to one block under the name target block in MATLAB
Simulink as shown in figure (4). This block has four input
signals: Tx represents transmitted signal, (ACP1), (ACP2) and
(NP) which represents the antenna location signals. This
block has five input parameters that specify the target
specifications: velocity (m/sec), the direction of the target
Fig.3 Target signal generation block. movement angle (degree), range (m) and azimuth of a target
The first part is the target appearance decision that will (degree) as shown in figure (5).
decide the target appearance at a specific azimuth (direction
of the target). This block has three input signals that come
from the antenna system. The antenna location signals
includes Clock Pulse signal (ACP) and North Pulse signal
(NP). The ACP signal includes ACP1 and ACP2 each one has
4096 square pulses per radar antenna turn which represents
the angle of the antenna and gives indication about the angle
of the target, ACP1 is either lagging or leading from the ACP2
by quarter wave which give an indication if the rotation of the
antenna is clockwise or counter clockwise, while NP has one
pulse per antenna turn with one ACP clock width to indicate
that the radar antenna is in the real north [1]. These signals
will be generated using MATLAB Simulink which are
generated from a location antenna signals block that is passed
to up/down counter that will be used to give a specific angle,
then the value of counter is compared with the start and stop
azimuth target input parameters to make the target appear at a
specific azimuth.
The second part represents the target delay effected which
has one input that represent the transmitted signal. This part
will delay the transmitted signal depending on the range
parameter of the target. In MATLAB Simulink, this part is
simulated by using transport delay.
The third part is a target phase effected part that will effect on
the phase angle of the transmitted signal. The phase angle for
target signal is calculated from the range and the wavelength
of the transmitted signal according to the equation[6]: Fig.4 Target blocks in Simulink.

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 Targets Signals Simulation in Radar System

transmitted signal because the velocity=0 therefore the

transmitted and received signals have the same frequency but
different phase. The phase change can be calculated by using
the equation (8), RF and IF stages are shown in figure (6-A),
(6-B), (6-C) and (6-D) for this case. For moving target, the
value of velocity is not real value in order to observe clearly
the Doppler shift which is calculated from equation (6) and
equal to 236.4 KHz. The frequency change in the received RF
(A) Target block
signal from the frequency of transmitted signal due to the
Doppler effect is not observed, but in the IF stage, this effect
will be observed clearly as shown in figure (7-A), (7-B), (7-C)
and (7-D).
To represent the video signals for moved target in the output
of the phase detector in the received part of the radar, the
velocity input parameter will be taken 1200 m/sec, and the
target signal will appear in all angles. From figures (6-E) and
(7-E), one can observe that the video signal for the fixed
target has the same amplitude and polarity within the time of
duration pulse only while the video for the moving target, has
a different amplitude and polarity within the time of duration
pulse.

(B) The target block parameters.

Fig.5 Interface target block.
V. SIMULATION RESULTS
The target generation block and all other required blocks were
implemented using MATLAB Simulink in order to test target
block within different conditions and different types of radars
as illustrated below:
A. Case (1) Pulse Radar
This case includes two subcases: one for fixed target and the
other for a moving target. The generation target block is tested
under the following input parameters as shown in table I.
Table I. Pulse radar input parameters.
Transmitted pulse signal

Period of pulse =1msec

Pulse width = 6μsec Fig.6 Transmitted and fixed target signals.

Carrier frequency =300MHz

Antenna location signal

Number of turn per minute: 3 turns

Movement direction of antenna : Clock wise

Target block parameters

The velocity=120000 m/sec for moving target

The velocity=0 for fixed target

Movement target angle = 10 degree

Wavelength =1m

Range =75 Km

Azimuth = (0-.008)

For fixed target, the received signal will only be affected by Fig.7 Transmitted and moving target signals.
the delay which is computed from the equation (1) and
equaled 0.5msec while there is no Doppler shift effect in to

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 International Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering (IJESE)
ISSN: 2319–6378, Volume-2, Issue-1
B. Case (2) Continuous Wave Radar :
In this case, the generation target block is tested for fixed
target and moving target under the following input parameters
as shown in table II.

Table II. Continuous wave radar input parameters.

Transmitted continuous wave signal

Carrier frequency =300MHz

Antenna location signal

Number of turn per minute: 3 turns

Movement direction of antenna : Clock wise

Target block parameters

The velocity=120000 m/sec for moving target

The velocity=0 for fixed target

Movement target angle = 10 degree

Wavelength =1m

Range =75 Km

Azimuth = (0-0.008)

For fixed target, the target signal will be affected by the

delay that also calculated from equation (1), the target
signals in the RF and IF stages explain the delay and there Fig.8 Transmitted and fixed target signals.
are no Doppler effect as shown in figures (8-A), (8-B), (8-
C) and (8-D). For moving target, the Doppler effect will be
equal to 238.4 KHz. The Doppler shift in the target signal is
not observed in RF stage in the receiver part, but in the IF
stage, the effect can be observed clearly as shown in figure
(9-A), (9-B), (9-C) and (9-D).

Because there is no Doppler effect for fixed target, the video

signal appears as the DC value which represents the phase
change due to the propagation of the transmitted signal
through round-trip as shown in figure (8-E).

For moving target, the video signal will appear as sine wave
that represents the value of Doppler shift, as shown in figure
(9-E). In this case the targets appear in all angles and the
velocity of moving target equal 1200 m/sec therefore the
Doppler effect will be equal 3262.32Hz.

C. Case (3) FM-CW Radar

The generation target block is tested for fixed target and

moving target in FM-CW radar under the following input
parameters as shown in table III. Fig.9 Transmitted and moving target signals.

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 Targets Signals Simulation in Radar System

Table III. FM-CW radar input parameter.

Transmitted FM-CW signal

Initial carrier frequency=300MHz

Bandwidth=30 MHz

Deviation frequency= 6MHz

Antenna location signal

Number of turn per minute: 3 turns

Movement direction of antenna : Clock wise

Target block parameters

The velocity=120000 m/sec for moving target

The velocity=0 for fixed target

Movement target angle = 10 degree

Wavelength =1m

Range =75 Km

Azimuth = (0-0.008)

Both fixed and moving targets signals suffer from delay time
Fig.10 Transmitted signal and fixed target signals.
as shown in figures (10) and (11) at the RF and IF stages for
these targets. But in the moving target the transmitted signal
suffered from Doppler effect and equal to 236.4 KHz. As a
result, the Doppler shift can be observed clearly in the IF
stage when compared with RF signal in the receiver part but in
the fixed target there is no Doppler effect as shown in figures
(10) and (11).

The video signal is not important for calculation of range in

the FM-CW. The range calculation can get from the
difference frequency between the instantaneous transmitted
signal and received target signal in RF stage as shown in
figures (10-F) and (11-F) therefore the Doppler effect in the
moving target will cause ambiguity in range calculation. One
can observe the Doppler effect from the video signal, for fixed
target will appear as the DC value but for the moving target,
the video signal appeared as sine wave which represents the
Doppler frequency as shown in figures (10-E) and (11-E). In
this case the velocity of moving target is equal to 1200 m/sec.

D. Case (4) Pulse Compression Radar

The generation target block is also tested for fixed target and
moving target under the following input parameters as
shown in table IV. Fig.11 Transmitted signal and moved target signals.

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 International Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering (IJESE)
ISSN: 2319–6378, Volume-2, Issue-1
Table IV. Pulse compression radar input parameters.

Transmitted pulse compression signal

Pulse width = 24 μsec

Range resolution= 450m

Carrier frequency =300 MHz

FM carrier frequency (IF) =30MHz

Bandwidth=24KHz

Deviation frequency= 3KHz

Antenna location signal

Number of turn per minute: 3 turns

Movement direction of antenna : Clock wise

Target block parameters

The velocity=120000 m/sec for moving target

Fig.12 Transmitted signal and fixed target signals.
The velocity=0 for fixed target

Movement target angle = 10 degree

Wavelength =1m

Range =75 Km

Azimuth =(0-.008)

The transmitted signal suffered from the delay time effect

when returned from the fixed and moving targets, that effect is
shown in figures (12) and (13) at the RF and IF stages for
these targets. For moving target, the Doppler shift can be
observed clearly in the IF stage when it is compared with RF
signal in the receiver part but in the fixed target there is no
Doppler effect as shown in figures (12) and (13).
The video signals for the moving and fixed targets represent
the output of the pulse compression filter that are shown in Fig.13 Transmitted signal and moved target signals.
figures (12-E) and (13-E). One can observe clearly the width REFERENCES
[1]- M. A. Al-Zubaidy, S. S. Al-Shamaa , and K.H. Sayidmarie,” A
of the video signal smaller than the transmitted signal pulse PC-Based Radar System Simulator,” IEEE 2005 International Symposium
width; that will give higher accuracy range resolution. The on Microwave, Antenna, Propagation and ECM Technologies for Wireless
Doppler frequency shift due to the moving target causes some Communications (MAPE 2005), Beijing, China, 8-12 August 2005.
distortion of the video signal when the Doppler effect [2]- A. Biran, and M. Breiner, “MATLAB 6 for Engineers," Prentice Hall,
3rd Edition, 2002.
increased. In this case the distortion is very small because the [3]- B. R. Mahafza, “Radar Systems Analysis and Design using MATLAB,”
Doppler effect is also small compared with the initial CHAPMAN & HALL/CRC, 2000.
frequency because the velocity of the moving target is equal [4]- M. I. Skolnik, "Radar Handbook,” 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1990.
to 1200 m/sec. [5]- D. K. Barton, and S. A. Leonov, "Radar Technology Encyclopedia",
Artech House, 1998.
[6]-M. I. Skolnik, "Introduction to radar systems,” 3nd Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 8911.
Dr. Mahmod A. Al-Zubaidy He received the B.Sc. in Elec. Comm. Eng.
From Mosul University in 1989 (Mosul/ Iraq). He received the M.Sc. and the
Ph.D. both in Elec. Comm. Eng. from Mosul University (Mosul / Iraq) in
1994 and 2006, respectively. Since 2007, he had been joined University of
Mosul/Collage of Electronic Engineering as a lecture. his research interests
includein Radar Systems, Digital Communications, Communication
Systems and Mobile Systems.
Samaa K. Al-Saffar was born in Mosul-Iraq in 1988. She received her
B.Sc. in Communication Engineering from the University of Mosul/College
of Electronic Engineering in 2010. She is currently a M.Sc. student in
Communication Engineering. She is research interest in radar systems.

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