Sub-THz Radar sensing of the Environment for future Autonomous Marine platforms (STREAM)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
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Publications
Rahman S
(2023)
Radar signatures of sea lions at K-band and W-band
in IET Radar, Sonar & Navigation
Rahman S
(2022)
Millimetre wave radar signatures of sea lions
Rahman S
(2023)
Machine learning-based approach for maritime target classification and anomaly detection using millimetre wave radar Doppler signatures
in IET Radar, Sonar & Navigation
Vattulainen A
(2024)
G-band FMCW Doppler radar for close-range environmental sensing
in IEEE Transactions on Radar Systems
Vattulainen A
(2022)
G-band FMCW Doppler radar for sea clutter and target characterization
Vattulainen A
(2023)
Amplitude Distribution of Low Grazing Angle G-band Littoral Sea Clutter
| Description | The overall aim of the project has been to investigate the potential for sub-THz radars as sensors for autonomous boats. As millimetre wave radars have become ubiquitous on cars to provide collision avoidance and navigation functions, we propose that sub-THz radars, which operate at even higher frequencies, would be suitable sensors for the eve more demanding application or marine autonomy. Sub-THz radars offer the potential for very high resolution sensing and imaging which can reveal the texture in a scene, better aiding decision making using machine learning to make decisions over the vessel's path. Autonomous boats must avoid colliding with a wide variety of objects including floating debris, harbour infrastructure, swimmers/kayakers, and protected sea mammals. We have used a range of existing and some specially developed sub-THz radars, in conjunction with our partners at the University of Birmingham, to collect a wide range of data from different sea conditions and objects on the surface. Due to the lack of prior data at these frequencies, nearly all the data collected has never been previously reported. We collected radar data on sea lions in conjunction with our colleagues in the Scottish Oceans Institute leading to two publications showing that we can discriminate between different activities. Our new radar 'Theseus' operates at 207 GHz and has allowed us to publish sea clutter data at a higher frequency than ever previously reported. The high resolution data enabled by our advanced radars has been used to classify different objects and waves, as would be required for an autonomous boat. |
| Exploitation Route | Our data could be used to help design new sensors for autonomous boats which would find application in defence, transport and leisure markets. We have been engaging with industry throughout the project to keep them aware of our work and to seek their input. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Electronics Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Transport |
| Title | Amplitude Characteristics of Littoral Sea Clutter Data at K-band and W-band (dataset) |
| Description | Files correspond to data used for the generation of the figures in this manuscript. In each dataset, each column contains the log magnitude values of a single range profile and successive columns correspond to the subsequent range profiles. Dataset_1 and Dataset_2 are 24 GHz radar data looking towards the shore and looking at the open sea respectively. Dataset_3 and Dataset_4 are the corresponding 94 GHz data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset was used in the preparation of the conference paper and has also been used in a PhD thesis. |
| URL | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/datasets/amplitude-characteristics-of-littoral-sea-clutter... |
| Title | Machine learning based approach for maritime target classification and anomaly detection using millimetre wave radar Doppler signatures (dataset) |
| Description | Raw radar data |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset led to the publication of a journal paper. |
| URL | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/machine-learning-based-approach-for-maritime-ta... |
| Title | Millimetre wave radar signatures of sea lions (dataset) |
| Description | Raw radar data file of the Sea Lion signatures processed and analysed in the paper. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset led to a publication at an international conference. |
| URL | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/datasets/millimetre-wave-radar-signatures-of-sea-lions-dat... |
| Title | Radar signatures of sea lions at K-band and W-band (dataset) |
| Description | xx |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset led the the publication of an invited special issue journal paper. |
| URL | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/radar-signatures-of-sea-lions-at-kband-and-wban... |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Birmingham |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have collaborated with the University of Birmingham since 2019 under the EPSRC funded project "Sub-THz Radar sensing of the Environment for future Autonomous Marine platforms (STREAM)". We have contributed radar hardware and undertaken radar measurements on joint field trials which have led to joint publications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UoB have similarly contributed radar hardware and undertaken radar measurements on joint field trials which have led to joint publications. |
| Impact | The collaboration spans physics and electronic engineering. UStA has led 8 publications and UoB has led 6 additional publications, arising from this project to date. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Annual Summary reports issued to Project Partners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We have issued annual summaries on activities and outcomes from the project to our Project Partners to keep them abreast of progress and to try to keep them engaged in the project. As many are in companies their focus has shifted during the project. We identified new external partners with an interest in raadr for marine sensing and issued the sumaries to them too. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Hensoldt UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We presented results from our project to Hensoldt UK, a leading manufacturer of marine radars. Whilst not originally a Project partner, they have expressed continued interest in our work over the course of the project, having learnt about it from conferences and EMSIG workshops. We discussed possibly doing trials from their test site. There are significant areas of overlap in the data analysis techniques we are applying to our maritime radar data that we have been discussing ideas for future collaboration and possibly PhD sponsorship. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Raymarine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We presented details of our project to Project Partner Raymarine to explore how our results could be of benefit to them. We also discussed the potential for them providing a land-based test site and a trials boat from which we could conduct further data collections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at EMSIG 2022 annual symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A poster was presented at the EMSIG 2022 annual meeting in London. EMSIG (electro magnetic systems interest group) is the society for those practitioners working on radar and electronic warfare. EMSIG membership spans academia, industry and government. The poster, authored by a PhD student, presented work on a new sub-THz radar for measuring sea clutter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.emsig.org.uk/ |
| Description | Presentation at 6th SOMaR workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We presented our work on sub-THz radar measurements of the sea to the 6th Sensing the Ocean with Marine Radar Workshop, a biennial event started 14 years ago and a community with whom we had no prior engagement. The event was very successful and brought us together with experts using 'conventional' radar to sense the ocean. They were interested in the possibilities offered by our sub-THz radars to provide additional, very high resolution data to the measurements they currently make. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Report on STREAM project to the University Court |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ahead of the the start of the STREAM project, once the funding has been announced, I was asked to provide a summary of the project for the newsletter provided to the University Court which is the governing body of the University. The Court has overall responsibility for the governance of the University, including all aspects of strategic planning and the management of resources. The Court representatives come from from senior management, academic staff, trade unions, students, alumni, Fife Council and non-executive members appointed on a skills basis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2022 |
| Description | Talk at EMSIG radar focus group meeting. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | St Andrews hosted a one-day meeting of two focus groups within EMSIG, the UK radar society, covering signal processing and short range sensing. Over 50 radar practitioners attended the event. A PhD student gave a talk on radar sea clutter results from this project. We staged an exhibit of several of our radar instruments, including the ones used in this project - this hardware exhibit generated a lot of interest from attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emsig.org.uk/ |