Available Example Implementations

This example includes two Simulink® models:

Introduction

Several examples, such as End-to-End Monostatic Radar and Automotive Adaptive Cruise Control Using FMCW and MFSK Technology, have shown that one can build end-to-end radar systems in Simulink using Phased Array System Toolbox. In many cases, once the system model is built, the next step would add more fidelity in different subsystems and components. A popular candidate for such a component is the RF front end. One advantage of modeling the system in Simulink is the capability of performing multidomain simulations.

The following sections show two examples of incorporating RF Blockset™ modeling capability in radar systems built with Phased Array System Toolbox.

Monostatic Radar with One Target

The first model is adapted from example Modeling Mutual Coupling in Large Arrays Using Embedded Element Pattern, which simulates a monostatic pulse radar with one target. From the diagram itself, the model below looks identical to the model shown in that example.

model = 'simrfV2_monostatic_radar';
open_system(model);

When the model is executed, the resulting plot is also the same.

sim(model);

However, a deeper look at the transmitter subsystem shows that the transmitter now employs two RF Blockset amplifiers.

open_system([model '/Transmitter']);

Similar changes are also implemented on the receiver side.

open_system([model '/Receiver Noise']);

With these changes, the model is capable of simulating RF behaviors. For example, the simulation result shown above assumes a perfect power amplifier. In real applications, the amplifier suffers from many nonlinearities. If one sets the IP3 of the transmitter to 70 dB and runs the simulation again, the peak corresponding to the target is no longer as dominant. This gives the engineer some knowledge regarding the system's performance under different situations.

set_param([model '/Transmitter/PA'],'IP3','70');
sim(model);

bdclose(model);
clear model;

FMCW Radar Range and Speed Estimation

The second example is adapted from Automotive Adaptive Cruise Control Using FMCW Technology. However, this model uses a triangle sweep waveform instead, so the system can estimate range and speed simultaneously. At the top level, the model is similar to what gets built from Phased Array System Toolbox. Once executed, the model shows the estimated range and speed values that match the distance and relative speed of the target car.

model = 'simrfV2_fmcw_radar';
open_system(model);
sim(model);

Similar to the first example, the transmitter and receiver subsystems are now built with RF Blockset blocks.

The following figure shows the transmitter subsystem.

open_system([model '/Radar Transmitter']);

The following figure shows the receiver subsystem.

open_system([model '/Radar Receiver']);

In a continuous wave radar system, part of the transmitted waveform is used as a reference to dechirp the received target echo. From the diagrams above, one can see that the transmitted waveform is sent to the receiver via a coupler and the dechirping is performed via an I/Q mixer. Therefore, by adjusting parameters in those RF components, higher simulation fidelity can be achieved.

bdclose(model);
clear model;

Summary

This example shows two radar models that were originally built with Phased Array System Toolbox and later incorporated RF models from RF Blockset. The simulation fidelity is greatly improved by combining the two products together.