Real-Time FMCW Radar X-Band Signal Acquisition and Visualization

The recent developments in the remote sensing technologies have resulted in large amounts of data transmitted from spaceborne sensors. To keep up with the volume, speed, and variety of these data, new data acquisition and visualization systems need to be developed. This chapter focuses on some design and development considerations for a real-time data acquisition and visualization of X-band in a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar. Relevant issues such as high-speed network, parallel data processing system, and large-scale storage system are discussed. Ideally, the acquisition system should be capable of concurrent processing at low cost and visualization technique should be in the same time scale with other conventional 2D visualization of X-band weather radars. Benefits of this type of radar are that it is not just safe and inexpensive, but also serves as a means in filling in gaps of higher-powered pulse-doppler radars when used in conjunction with them.