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IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement (TIM) Paper Accepted - Led by Ms. Rachel Jarvis
Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Jarvis on her recently accepted IEEE TIM paper titled "Wideband Measurement Techniques for Extracting Accurate RCS of Single and Distributed Targets." This paper was co-authored by colleagues Dr. Jessica Ruyle and Dr. Justin Metcalf at OU. In summary, this article discusses both test setup and signal processing techniques to achieve highly accurate radar cross section (RCS) measurements across a wide bandwidth. This high accuracy is achieved through both postprocessing algorithms and test setup hardware modifications. The postprocessing techniques include calibration, clutter cancellation, and time-gating, all of which are applicable to a generic anechoic chamber setup.
Andrew Gonzales awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program grant by the University of Oklahoma's Honors College
Congratulations to ECE/ARRC undergraduate researcher Andrew Gonzales for being awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant from the University of Oklahoma's Honors College. Students must choose a faculty mentor and submit a budget and a one-page proposal on a research project that they will conduct and present at the Honors College's Undergraduate Research Day. Andrew's proposal was around the idea of using an automotive radar module, a 2D mechanical actuator system, and a custom timing and control design to generate volumetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of a target scene. This measurement setup can be used as a SAR demonstrator during tours of the Radar Innovations Lab (RIL) to help guests visualize complex radar concepts. His concept was fully funded for $909.99 to purchase the radar and data conversion module needed for the experiment. Andrew is an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Jay McDaniel, who will serve as the faculty mentor for this UROP. Congratulations, Andrew, on this outstanding accomplishment!
IEEE Journal of Microwaves (JWM) Paper Accepted - Led by Mr. Russell Kenney
Congratulations to Mr. Russell Kenney on his recently accepted IEEE JMW paper titled "Two-Dimensional Beam Pattern Synthesis for Phased Arrays with Arbitrary Element Geometry via Magnitude Least Squares Optimization." This paper was co-authored by colleague Dr. Jorge Salazar at OU. In summary, this paper details the combination of an extended Woodward -Lawson synthesis procedure with the magnitude leat-squares optimization method to optimize shaped beams with an arbitrary geometry phased array with real-time capability. The algorithm was demonstrated on near-field measurements taken from a phased array demonstrator developed at the ARRC. This journal was the result of Mr. Russell Kenney's final design project from Dr. Jorge Salazar's ECE 5973: Phased Array Antenna class.
The MMG Creates OU/ARRC's First Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Image Using an Entirely In-House Developed SAR System, Fusion-Based Navigation Solution, and Signal Processing Tool-Kit
Recently, the MMG created the first ground-based SAR images after months of research and development of their very own SAR system. The SAR system's transceiver was designed in-house and integrated into a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) form factor using the X-Microwave platform. The team worked with Remote Sensing Solutions to develop a flexible digital back-end that completes the transceiver. The team also developed a fusion-based PNT solution that offers a highly accurate position estimation at the same pulse repetition frequency as the collected radar data. This data is then processed through an in-house SAR back-projection algorithm that is used to create the SAR images. The latest improvements to the system included further integration and packaging of the SAR system into an 8.2-pound field-ready enclosure that can be placed into the storage compartment of the Piper Warrior aircraft available for flight testing at the University of Oklahoma's flight school. The team worked with aircraft mechanics to install the antennas and GoPro camera for stripmap SAR data and video captures. Below are a few videos of the SAR captures.
Posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021
Left: A SAR video of our very first Ku-band airborne data capture. The red X is the flight path of the airplane and the video shows a concatenation of SAR images in a video format. The look angle of this experiment was 30 degrees and had a bandwidth of 100 MHz. Right: An overlay of the team's static SAR image with the actual target scene from Google Earth. The video slowly fades in the SAR image to illustrate the individual targets in the scene. The same look angle and bandwidth was used for this data capture, but did have a higher transmit power to increase SNR.
Mr. Grant Karber Graduates with M.S. in Electrical Engineering
Congratulations to Mr. Grant Karber for also achieving an absolutely outstanding accomplishment of graduating with a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Oklahoma. Grant was tasked with deriving an innovative solution to suppress higher-order modes in air-suspended cavity-formed filter designs. Mr. Karber utilized theory from defected ground resonators and the multi-path current flow of the SISL architecture to bandstop filter higher-order modes to achieve an extremely large filter stopband. Grant will be joining a new OKC startup called Skydweller Aero after graduation.
Posted on Friday, July 30th, 2021
Mr. Paul Hartline Graduates with M.S. in Electrical Engineering
Congratulations to Mr. Paul Hartline for the absolutely outstanding accomplishment of graduating with a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Oklahoma. Paul Hartline interned with a company called "Metamagnetics" as an undergraduate student and found a new passion for magnetic component design that fueled his thesis research. Paul designed and implemented a surface-mountable, S-band circulator/isolator design for highly integrated transceivers. Mr. Hartline also implemented a time-domain analysis technique for tuning wideband circulators for optimized performance. Paul will be joining Sandia National Laboratories radar group after graduation.
Posted on Friday, July 30th, 2021
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement (TIM) Paper Accepted - Led by Ms. Rachel Jarvis
Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Jarvis on her recently accepted IEEE TIM paper titled, "UHF-Band Radar Cross Section Measurements With Single-Antenna Reflection Coefficient Results." This paper was co-authored by former MMG student Rylee Mattingly who is now a Ph.D. student with Dr. Justin Metcalf at OU. In summary, this paper details the signal processing, custom control and automation of RCS measurements, and experimentation of extracting the RCS of targets in the UHF-band (300 MHz - 1 GHz) with a portable measurement solution. Using her process, the measured RCS average error of a 12-inch metal sphere was reduced from 4.9 dBsm to 0.54 dBsm using the measured data from a single UHF-band antenna.
Posted on Friday, July 30th, 2021
Dr. Jay McDaniel was elected the inaugural young professional affiliate member of the IEEE MTT-24 Technical Committee: Microwave/mm-Wave Radar, Sensing, and Array Systems Committee
Posted on Friday, June 25th, 2021
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Ms. Rachel Jarvis Graduates with M.S. in Electrical Engineering
Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Jarvis for the absolutely outstanding accomplishment of graduating with a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Oklahoma. As a result of her research, Rachel was able to submit an IEEE conference and journal paper (both accepted) and an invention disclosure for patent review and has another conference and journal paper under review and two more journal papers nearing submission. Moreover, Ms. Jarvis submitted an application and was awarded the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship, which is the cornerstone of academic excellence. She will be continuing her education at the University of Oklahoma as a P student in the MMG and ARRC.
Posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021
Dr. Jay W. McDaniel received the "Award for Excellence in Research Grants" from the University of Oklahoma for being awarded a single grant worth more than $1 Million dollars at the time of the award.
Posted on Friday, April 30th, 2021
ECE/ARRC Student Russell Kenney Awarded Prestigious DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Congratulations to ECE/ARRC Ph.D. student Russell Kenney on being awarded an FY2021 Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship! The DoD NDSEG Fellowship Program, established in 1989 by direction of Congress and sponsored by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, serves to increase the number of United States citizens trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance.
This program is designed to encourage Baccalaureate recipients to enter Graduate school and ultimately gain Doctorates which align with the DoD services Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) in research and development. Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend, healthcare and travel budget, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution. The NDSEG program received 7,942 submissions this year, resulting in roughly only the top 2% of applicants selected for this highly meritorious fellowship.
Russell's proposed research involves investigating novel fusion-based state estimation techniques for localization and synchronization of distributed radar sensor networks. When implemented, the proposed solution can enable autonomous sensor swarms capable of an extensive array of missions, including distributed high-gain beamforming and synthetic aperture radar imaging. Mr. Kenney is advised by Dr. Jay McDaniel and will continue his Ph.D. studies at the University of Oklahoma.
Posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2021
ECE/ARRC Student Rachel Jarvis Awarded Prestigious National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP)
Congratulations to ECE/ARRC Master's student Rachel Jarvis on being awarded and selected into the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program. As the country’s oldest fellowship program of its kind, the GRFP recognizes and directly supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities of being selected, including a three-year annual stipend, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution. They are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security, as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.
Rachel's proposed research involves investigating novel adaptive pulse compression processing techniques for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveforms to explore the foundational limitations on modern-day biomedical imaging radars. Successful derivation, implementation, and validation of the proposed research would have a transformative impact on non-ionizing biomedical radar technologies used in applications such as traumatic brain injury, breast cancer detection, and sinusitis diagnosis. Ms. Jarvis is advised by Dr. Jay McDaniel and will continue her Ph.D. studies at the University of Oklahoma starting this upcoming Fall.
Posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2021
Dr. Jay McDaniel was elected the inaugural young professional affiliate member of the IEEE MTT-4 Technical Committee: Microwave Passive Components and Transmission Line Structures
Posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2021
The MMG Creates a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Image Using an Entirely In-House Developed SAR System, Fusion-Based Navigation Solution, and Signal Processing Tool-Kit: A First for the ARRC and OU
The Advanced Radar Research Center is world-renowned for its weather radar and all-digital at every element polarimetric phased array radar systems. However, due to the complexity of and wide breadth of technologies needed to create a SAR image, including radar system development, position, navigation and timing (PNT), and complex SAR processing, the ARRC has relied on data from sponsor systems. That is until recently when the MMG created the below SAR image after months of research and development of their very own SAR system. The SAR system's transceiver was designed in-house and integrated into a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) form factor using the X-Microwave platform. The team worked with Remote Sensing Solutions to develop a flexible digital back-end that completes the transceiver. The team also developed a fusion-based PNT solution that offers a highly accurate position estimation at the same pulse repetition frequency as the collected radar data. This data is then processed through an in-house SAR back-projection algorithm that is used to create the SAR images. The field experiment was conducted that comprised of three targets (two corner reflectors and a metal plate) that were placed in a field next to the Radar Innovations Laboratory. The entire system was placed on a cart and pushed alongside the field to capture the required data. The SAR image is shown below.
Posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2021
IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC) Paper Accepted - Led by Ms. Rachel Jarvis
Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Jarvis on her recently accepted IEEE I2MTC paper titled, "Measurement and Signal Processing Techniques for Extracting Highly Accurate and Wideband RCS." The paper details several hardware and signal processing implementations and techniques to very accurately extract an object's RCS. Using her process, the measured RCS average error was reduced from 3.2 dBsm to 0.21 dBsm, or by 74% in total.
Posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2021
Kansas City National Security Campus and Sandia National Laboratories Awards Grant to MMG
The Kansas City National Security Campus, part of the Department of Energy's National Security Enterprise, and Sandia National Laboratories have partnered and awarded the MMG with a $540,000 research grant titled "Ku-band Synthetic Aperture Radar Emulator, Frequency-Agile Electronics, and Fusion Techniques for Position, Navigation, and Timing." One goal of the project is to investigate the next generation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) architectures and integration strategies to implement a pulsed-Doppler system on a UAV. Further implementations include a time-multiplexed FMCW and pulsed-Doppler operation using a software-defined radar back-end and flexible RF front-end. Other goals of the project are focused on integrated RF technologies, and miniaturized/robust magnetic components (including 3D printing of components). Finally, state-estimation-based fusion techniques are currently being researched to open the door for UAV-based navigational-grade PNT solutions for SAR imaging applications. In general, this research is focused on a multi-disciplinary approach on how to advance the state-of-the-art in reduced cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) radar systems to meet national security needs.
Posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2021
Jonathan Knowles Graduates with B.S. in Electrical Engineering
Congratulations to Mr. Jonathan Knowles for his recent graduation with an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Knowles has been an undergraduate research assistant in the MMG for the last year and a half and has been involved with the integration of a Ku-band synthetic aperture radar and most recently the design and implementation of tunable/frequency-agile electronics. Jon also helped as an undergraduate teaching assistant with the Electromagnetic Fields and Wave Propagation course in the Fall of 2020. He will be continuing his education at the University of Oklahoma as a master's graduate student in the MMG and ARRC focusing on the design and implementation of a tunable and frequency-agile filtering attenuator (filtennuator) for flexible RF transceivers.
Posted on Thursday January 21st, 2021
Dr. McDaniel and the Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) featured in Tektronix Case Study
To get the University of Oklahoma (OU) electrical and computer engineering students more excited about RF engineering careers and increase their understanding of fundamental electromagnetic (EM) concepts, Assistant Professor Jay McDaniel and OU worked with Tektronix to develop a ten-workstation teaching laboratory for experiential learning opportunities. The full case study can be found here: Inspiring the Next Generation of RF Engineers: University of Oklahoma Case Study
Posted on Thursday November 19th, 2020
Nicole Palmer awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program grant by the University of Oklahoma's Honors College
Congratulations to ECE/ARRC undergraduate researcher Nicole Palmer for being awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant from the University of Oklahoma's Honors College. Students must choose a faculty mentor and submit a budget and a one-page proposal on a research project that they will conduct and present at the Honors College's Undergraduate Research Day. Nicole's proposal was around the idea of using an automotive radar module, a 2D mechanical actuator system, and a custom timing and control design to generate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of a target scene. This measurement setup can be used as a SAR demonstrator during tours of the Radar Innovations Lab (RIL) to help guests visualize complex radar concepts. Her concept was fully funded for $986.53 to purchase the radar and data conversion module needed for the experiment. Nicole is an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Jay McDaniel, who will serve as the faculty mentor for this UROP. Congratulations, Nicole, on this outstanding accomplishment!
Posted on Wednesday November 18th, 2020
$7.4 Million Grant Awarded to the University of Oklahoma from the Office of Naval Research (ONR)
A $7.4 million grant awarded from the United States Office of Naval Research to the University of Oklahoma will fund the development of a near-field scanner and innovative digital radar solutions to support research, prototyping, and testing of several advanced digital radar concepts for the Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense. Dr. McDaniel will be PI for the Air-Suspended Tunable Resonators for Observing Systems (ASTROS) portion of this project.
Posted on Tuesday November 17th, 2020
IEEE Access Paper Accepted - Led by Dr. Jay McDaniel and former grad student Mr. Chris Walker
Congratulations to Mr. Chistopher Walker on his new IEEE Access journal paper titled, "Design of a Wide-band Surface Mountable Suspended Integrated Strip-Line Technology." The paper details the design, fab-rication, implementation, and testing of a flip-chip surface mountable SISL technology that is targeted for next-generation reduced cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) radar and communication systems.
Posted on Tuesday November 17th, 2020
IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems Paper Accepted - Led by Mr. Russell Kenney
Congratulations to Mr. Russell Kenney on his new IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems (J-MASS) titled, "A Varactor Based Tunable Combline Bandpass Filter Using Suspend-ed Integrated Stripline (SISL)." The paper details the design, fabrication, implementation, and testing of a frequency-agile band-pass filter for next-generation reduced cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) radar and communication systems.
Posted on Thursday September 24th, 2020
Mr. Brian Sun Awarded Dissertation Excellence Award
Congratulations to Mr. Brian Sun for being selected as a recipient of the Gallogly College of Engineering Dissertation Excellence Award. The $5,000 award is to reward PhD students that have achieved outstanding research results and encourage them to complete their dissertation with excellence. Brian has been an invited speaker to position, navigation, and timing (PNT) symposiums held by the Kansas City National Security Campus and Sandia National Laboratories. He has also been the lead author on two conference papers accepted to the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society's flagship conference I2MTC and co-inventor on a recent provisional patent filed under the title, "Multi-Inertial Measurement Unit Fusion for Fine Resolution Position Estimation". Congratulations Brian on this outstanding achievement!
Posted on Thursday September 24th, 2020
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Ms. Rachel Jarvis Graduates with 4.0 GPA in Engineering
Congratulations to Mrs. Rachel Jarvis for the absolutely outstanding accomplishment of graduating with an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to her excellent academic credentials, Mrs. Jarvis has been an undergraduate research assistant in the MMG for the last year and has shown incredible research potential in all aspects of the RF domain including hardware, software, and applied electromagnetics. Rachel is an incredibly hard-working individual and constantly gives back such as currently serving as the IEEE Eta Kappa Nu President. She will be continuing her education at the University of Oklahoma as a master's graduate student in the MMG and ARRC.
Posted on Wednesday July 8th, 2020
Mr. Grant Karber Graduates with Honors
Congratulations to Mr. Grant Karber for graduating with an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Mr. Karber worked with Dr. McDaniel his senior year as part of his honors requirement which resulted in an excellent thesis titled "Analysis of Defected Ground Structures in Suspended Integrated Stripline Cavities". Grant graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. He will be continuing his education at the University of Oklahoma as a masters graduate student in the MMG and ARRC.
Posted on Wednesday July 8th, 2020
Mr. Russell Kenney Successfully Defends Master's Thesis
Congratulations to Mr. Russell Kenney for successfully defending his master's thesis in electrical and computer engineering on April 22, 2020. Mr. Kenney's thesis is titled "Design and Implementation of an All-COTS Digital Back-end for a Pulse-Doppler Synthetic Aperture Radar". Russell has been a part of the MMG since his junior year of his undergraduate academic career and has been exceptionally proactive at leading the development of the Ku-band SAR system as part of the National Security Campus research project. He will be continuing his education at the University of Oklahoma as a PhD student in the MMG and ARRC.
Posted on Wednesday July 8th, 2020
Sandia National Labs Awards Grant to MMG
Sandia National Laboratories has awarded the MMG with an initial $100k research grant to design, develop, and integrate a complete synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system emulator using a software defined radar approach. This work will investigate the feasibility of miniaturized pulse-Doppler SAR systems with a direct digital conversion architecture for un-manned aerial vehicle implementation.
Posted on Monday April 27th, 2020
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement Journal Paper Accepted
In a joint collaboration between the University of Kansas and the University of Oklahoma, the first-ever multi-kilometer altitude detection of dielectric interfaces with cm-scale vertical resolution using a high-performance, field reconfigurable, ultra-wide band airborne FMCW radar test-bed has been de-monstratred. Congratulation to the Advanced Radar Research Center at OU and the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets at KU.
Posted on Friday March 27th, 2020
OU Filters Take Flight in Antarctica
In a joint effort between OU, the University of Kansas, and Texas-based company X-microwave, an integrated 2-18 GHz UWB airborne module has been developed for polarimetric remote sensing of snow in Antarctica. ECE/ARRC Professor, Dr. Jay McDaniel, one of the original designers of the ultra-wideband (UWB) snow radar, worked with the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) to help design and develop a set of integrated and low-loss filter solutions that can be integrated with the X-microwave RF LEGO concept. Recently, the filters were integrated into the snow radar transmit and receive modules and flown as part of the NASA Operation IceBridge mission. The resultant article from this research was published in Microwave Journal and featured on X-microwave's website.
Posted on Friday Feb 28, 2020
National Security Campus Awards Grant to MMG
The National Security Campus, part of the Department of Energy's National Security Enterprise, has awarded the MMG with a $290k research grant to investigate the next-generation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) architectures, integrated RF technologies, and miniaturized/robust magnetic components. This research is focused on a multi-disciplinary viewpoint of how to advance the state-of-the-art in reduced cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWaP) radar systems to meet national security needs.
Posted on Monday December 21st, 2019
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