FOD Finder™ XFV2 Radar Users Manual 12/08/2020
Table of Contents 1- Radar Configurations and Installation a) Fixed platform (tower) installations b) Mobile platform (truck-mounted) installations c) DC power connection d) Data transfer connection e) Radar beam orientation f) FCC info and Caution to the user 2- Operating instructions a) Powering up the system b) Run-time software instructions c) Calibration and verification 3- RF Safety a) RF power information b) Safe expose levels and distances 4- System Warranty and Troubleshooting 2
Fixed Platform (Tower) Installation Radar mount assembly with azimuth/elevation pointing adjustment, attached to a tower using U-bolt hardware 3
Fixed Platform (Tower) Installation, cont.
Mobile Platform Installation Radar is integrated with light bar, mounts to vehicular roof rack 5
Radar DC Power and Data Connections • DC power provided through a 5pin Amphenol connector P/N PT06A-14-3P(SR) • Radar powered by +24VDC at approximately 3A • Data transmitted through standard Cat-5 cable, interfaced with Amphenol connector and shield P/N RJFTV6MG • A clip-on one-turn inductor, FairRite P/N 0443167251, is integrated with each cable to reduce the radiated emissions below FCC limit specifications 6
Radar Beam Orientation The radar beam is concentrated by a microstrip patch-array antenna, onto a sector of 120 degrees in azimuth by 1 degree in elevation. This fan beam scans with RF frequency over 4 degrees of elevation during every chirp. The radar is mounted to align the area of surveillance with this window.
FCC info and Caution to the user This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Note that changes or modifications to the Radar unit not expressly approved by Trex Aviation Systems could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
System Power-Up The FOD Finder XFV2 radar system power is delivered from a power box at the base of the tower, or on a service platform within 10m of the radar unit. The power box includes a circuit breaker switch that controls AC power. AC power activates an AC-to-DC power supply that provides 24VDC to the unit. When the AC circuit breaker is turned on, the radar unit starts a 3minute boot-up, initialization and calibration sequence.
Startup Instructions: Run-Time Software Open the Program Folder “Static-CDMA” as shown to the right 10
Startup Instructions: Run-Time Software (cont.
Startup Instructions: Run-Time Software (cont.
Startup Instructions: Run-Time Software (cont.) The radar begins transmitting, and return data are displayed in a blue box of varying color, indicating magnitude of signal. Slider bars above the return image can be adjusted via the computer mouse, to alter the display or select system operating parameters.
FOD Finder Radar Calibration and Verification The FOD Finder XF radar requires an initial calibration to operate at optimum performance. The calibration procedure measures the relative response, in phase and amplitude, of all transmit and receive channel combinations in use by the radar. This calibration data is collected by acquiring radar data from a single, strong return source placed in the radar far-field, such as a corner cube, and is measured at twelve different frequencies across the radar band.
FOD Finder Radar Calibration and Verification (cont.) The radar calibration is a function of the relative electrical line lengths of traces within the radar and the impedance of the radar MMW circuits. If no physical changes are made to the radar, these values do not change appreciably. There may be small changes in the system parameters over time due to changes in temperature or aging of components.
FOD Finder Radar Calibration and Verification (cont.) This reconstructed radar image of a runway relies on data processed using the calibration file; data from bright point targets are used to verify that the calibration is current. As part of system self-monitoring and self-calibration, the radar verifies the accuracy of its own calibration by logging data from fixed point objects within the radar field-of-view and comparing return levels to those measured at system installation.
RF Safety The FOD Finder™ XFV2 radar transmits RF power at 78-81 GHz out of a radome making up the front face of the radar enclosure. The MMW energy travels thru the white face plastic, where it diverges at an angle of approximately 120 degrees in azimuth and 1 degree in elevation. Over a sweep period of approximately 50ms, this fan beam is swept over a range of 4 degrees in elevation.
System Warranty and Troubleshooting The FOD Finder XFV2 radar system is delivered with a one-year warranty from the date of installation. If issues arise during system operation the first step is to power down the system and restart after 30 seconds. If performance issues persist, a screen shot of the user display should be taken and sent to the system installer.
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