Experiments with a holographic radar based on Software Defined Radio

The development of radar applications usually involves a complex set of different components, which can be costly and sometimes require careful handling. By concentrating most of the radar tasks into a software-defined radio, the hardware burden is alleviated, while the processing can be efficiently developed using open-source software suites. This article describes the development of a prototype radar based on a commercial software-defined radio, using only a few extra components. It operates under the holographic principle, where excitation is performed in single frequency, continuously transmitted. The tests have shown its potential applicability, carried out in an indoor environment, including through-the-wall detection.