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FMCW RADAR
High-resolution ranging and velocity measurement using frequency-modulated continuous-wave techniques.
FΛRTTS
FMCW AESA RADAR TARGET TRACKING SYSTEM
A Ka-band active electronically scanned array radar platform being developed for real-time detection, tracking, and beam-steered sensing.
Concept animation: the array electronically steers an RF beam to maintain track on a moving aircraft.
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ACTIVE PHASED ARRAY
Electronically controlled transmit and receive channels designed for rapid beam steering and multi-target sensing.
⌖
REAL-TIME TRACKING
Range-Doppler processing, target detection, and tracking on embedded compute hardware.
System overview
From chirp to track.
FARTTS integrates waveform generation, Ka-band frequency conversion, an electronically steered array, SDR acquisition, and real-time processing into a single experimental radar platform.
〰Waveform / LO
⊗Upconversion
▷AESA TX
✦Target
◁AESA RX
⊗Downconversion
IQSDR Acquisition
◎Processing & Tracking
Project progress
Current Project Status
The prototype is under active development. Current work spans RF architecture, custom antenna arrays, reference distribution, signal processing, hardware integration, and test planning.
✓
RF Architecture
Ka-band conversion chain and LO distribution
✓
Antenna Array Development
Patch-array and feed-network design
✓
Synchronization
Shared frequency and time reference architecture
✓
Signal Processing
Range-Doppler processing and target tracking
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Prototype Testing
Bench validation and controlled field testing
Partners & supporters
Built with industry support.
Analog Devices
RF Hardware SupportSupport for the project’s RF conversion and signal-chain development.
National Instruments / Ettus Research
SDR SupportSupport related to the software-defined radio portion of the system.
Ansys
Simulation SoftwareFull-wave electromagnetic simulation support for antenna and array development.
KRYTAR
Microwave ComponentsRF and microwave component support used in the radar signal chain.
Rohde & Schwarz
Test & MeasurementTest and measurement support for future RF characterization and validation.
Support FARTTS
Help move the prototype forward.
Funding helps cover remaining beamforming hardware, RF interconnects, LO hardware, antenna fabrication, and other integration costs.
The platform
System
FARTTS is a Ka-band FMCW radar platform centered on electronically steered transmit and receive apertures, coherent timing, SDR acquisition, and embedded signal processing.
Ka-bandMillimeter-wave RF architecture
FMCWRange and radial-velocity measurement
AESAElectronic beam steering
Real-timeEmbedded processing and visualization
Detailed hardware architecture
Current System Block Diagram
This is the current planned hardware architecture for the FARTTS prototype. Hover over a commercially identified component to see its name, then click it to open the manufacturer’s official product page.
01 / RF Front End
Frequency conversion
Dedicated upconversion and downconversion stages translate between the SDR/IF domain and the Ka-band RF operating region. The architecture is designed around a stable shared reference and controlled LO generation.
02 / Array
Beam steering
Multiple transmit and receive channels drive a phased-array architecture. Element spacing, channel phase control, feed-network layout, and calibration directly shape the beam.
03 / Data
SDR acquisition
Complex I/Q data is captured in the digital domain for waveform analysis, beat-frequency extraction, range-Doppler processing, and algorithm development.
04 / Processing
Target tracking
The processing pipeline combines range, velocity, and angle information to form persistent target tracks and a real-time operator display.
Engineering log
Development
A running view of the engineering work behind FARTTS: antenna design, RF integration, timing, signal processing, bench validation, and eventual field testing.
Roadmap
Prototype development path
RF architecture definition
Define the transmit/receive conversion chain, frequency plan, LO strategy, timing/reference architecture, and channel count.
Antenna element optimization
Tune patch geometry, impedance, bandwidth, substrate, and feed structure through full-wave EM simulation.
Array and feed development
Scale the optimized element into arrays while controlling spacing, coupling, routing, phase length, and fabrication constraints.
SDR and reference integration
Validate RF acquisition, shared frequency/time references, and stable I/Q capture at the system level.
Range-Doppler processing
Implement FMCW beat processing, FFT stages, target extraction, clutter mitigation, and track formation.
Integrated prototype testing
Perform bench characterization followed by controlled outdoor detection and tracking tests as the hardware matures.
People behind the system
Team
FARTTS is being developed by a multidisciplinary electrical engineering team working across system architecture, RF, antennas, software, digital signal processing, power systems, SDR development, integration, and technical documentation.
JB
Jason Besancon
Project Lead
Systems Architecture · RF · Antenna Design · Software
Leads the overall system design and integration, antenna development, RF architecture, evaluation-board control software and CSV configuration, and initial USRP / GNU Radio development.
jason@fartts.comWM
William Melendez
DSP & SDR Engineer
Digital Signal Processing · Software-Defined Radio
Focused on DSP development and expanding the project’s SDR-based signal acquisition and processing work.
william@fartts.comDG
Diego Gonzalez
Power Systems & Signal Processing
Power Systems · GNU Radio Algorithms
Works primarily in power systems while also contributing algorithms intended for implementation inside custom GNU Radio processing blocks.
diego@fartts.comRO
Rex Onyebuchi
Systems Integration Engineer
Integration · Hardware Bring-Up · Test Support
Supports subsystem integration and cross-functional hardware testing as the prototype moves from individual components toward a complete radar system.
rex@fartts.comJL
John-Ryan Lawrence
Technical Writing & Documentation
Documentation · Reports · Technical Communication
Focused on the writing and documentation side of the project, including technical reports, project documentation, and written deliverables.
john@fartts.comSupport network
Partners & Supporters
FARTTS has received hardware, software, and test-resource support from organizations that have helped move the prototype forward. The items below are listed specifically so the contribution is clear.
Donated hardware & resources
What each supporter contributed.
These entries use the exact quantities and support descriptions currently provided by the team. Product links go to the manufacturer’s official page when a specific product is identified.
1×
USRP B210
Software-defined radio platform.
Ettus Research / National Instruments
1×
ADMV1013-EVALZ
Evaluation hardware contributed to the RF signal chain.
Analog Devices
1×
ADMV1014-EVALZ
Evaluation hardware contributed to the RF signal chain.
Analog Devices
2×
ULTRA3005040
90° hybrid couplers.
KRYTAR
1 yr
HFSS License
One year of Ansys HFSS electromagnetic simulation access.
Ansys
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Test Equipment
Future test-equipment support.
Rohde & Schwarz
Future
Future supporters
How we plan to say thank you.
Recognition is intended to reflect meaningful support without creating a rigid public dollar threshold. Depending on the contribution, supporters may be acknowledged through the project website, project posters and presentations, demonstrations, technical reports, application notes, GitLab/project documentation, and subsystem-specific hardware or resource acknowledgments.
Website Recognition
Supporter profile
Meaningful supporters can receive a dedicated listing with the organization name, what they contributed, and an official product or company link when appropriate.
Project Materials
Posters, demos & presentations
Supporters may be acknowledged in public-facing project posters, presentations, demonstrations, reports, and other technical material.
Technical Credit
Contribution-specific acknowledgment
When hardware, software, fabrication, test equipment, or another resource directly enables a subsystem, the contribution can be credited alongside that part of the project.
Contribute
Interested in supporting FARTTS?
Support can take the form of funding, RF hardware, fabrication, interconnects, test-equipment access, technical review, or other engineering resources.
Get in touch
Contact
Questions about FARTTS, technical collaboration, sponsorship, or project support can be sent directly to the project point of contact.
Primary contact
Jason Besancon
General inquiries
contact@fartts.com
contact@fartts.com
Website
fartts.com
fartts.com
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