WiFi-based imaging for ground penetrating radar applications: fundamental study and experimental results

• Main Authors: Weike Feng, Jean-Michel Friedt, Zhipeng Hu, Grigory Cherniak, Motoyuki Sato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019-08-01
• Series: The Journal of Engineering
• Subjects: ground penetrating radar; surface acoustic waves; radar imaging; surface acoustic wave delay lines; wireless lan; passive radar; radar applications; wifi-based; ground penetrating radar applications; fundamental study; experimental results; fundamental research step; subsurface target imaging; passive ground penetrating radar; short-range targets; ieee 802.11 wireless fidelity wave; wifi signal; shallow layers; high resolution subsurface structure mapping; passive bistatic radar approach; subsurface tagging; saw delay lines; size 10.0 m
• Online Access: https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/joe.2019.0209

As a fundamental research step for subsurface target imaging by passive ground penetrating radar, some simulation and experimental results of passive bistatic radar imaging for short-range targets by using IEEE 802.11 Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wave as the source of illumination have been presented. As the WiFi signal only penetrates shallow layers and yet lacks bandwidth for high resolution subsurface structure mapping, the interrogation of cooperative targets with the passive bistatic radar approach is demonstrated. This strategy is achieved by inserting surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay lines acting as dedicated reflectors allowing for subsurface tagging (identification) or sensing (temperature measurement) through the fine measurement of echo delays. Experimental results show that short-range targets, such as cars and metallic plates located within 10 m, can effectively be detected and imaged. The response of the SAW delay lines can also be well probed.