Experiments on high-speed FMCW signal generation for optically-connected airport surface foreign object debris detection 96 GHz millimeter-wave radar systems

Even though they are small in volume and light in weight, the foreign object debris (FOD) on the runways must be removed to ensure the safety and security of flights. To sense and detect those FODs, we have been proposing the novel millimeter-wave radar architecture to improve both the detection and cost performance of the radar system. The radar system is based on the radio-over-fiber technology and the optical fiber network. In this paper, a high-speed frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) chirp signal generation for the optically-connected 96 GHz millimeter-wave radar system is demonstrated. The 10 kHz triangular FMCW chirp signal is generated and evaluated.