Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Radar Systems

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: A. Prof. Kamran Ghorbani

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: kamran.ghorbani@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Postgraduates: You are required to demonstrate knowledge of signal descriptions in the time and frequency domains and modulation techniques.

Undergraduates: You are required to have successfully completed EEE2254 Communication Engineering (this is not an enforced pre-requisite) or equivalent studies or to demonstrate knowledge of signal descriptions in the time and frequency domains and modulation techniques.


Course Description

This course will introduce you to basic radar principles and microwave systems. You will be familiarised with critical topics such as receiver sensitivity, dynamic range, jamming, and communication links.

The emphasis will be placed on airborne radars currently in service in applications ranging from long-range surveillance to environmental monitoring. The laboratory program will provide you with the opportunity to utilise modern CAD tools to design receivers and the latest in microwave test equipment to characterise your receiver designs.

The course will be strongly design oriented with a strong development of practical design skills.

Particular topics to be investigated will include:

  1. Basic mathematical concepts: dB values and equations.
  2. Introduction to radar systems and classification of radar: pulsed radar, CW radar.
  3. Receivers: crystal video receiver, IFM receiver, tuned radio frequency receiver, and superheterodyne receiver.
  4. Jamming: classifications of jamming, jamming-to-signal ratio, burn-through and cover jamming.
  5. Direction finding methods and synthetic aperture radar.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At undergraduate level this course develops the following Program Learning Outcomes of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours):

  • In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
  • Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
  • Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

 

At postgraduate level this course develops the following Program Learning Outcomes of the Master of Engineering:

  • High levels of technical competence in the field
  • Be able to apply problem solving approaches to work challenges and make decisions using sound engineering methodologies


On completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the principles of operation of microwave radar systems.
  2. Design and simulate microwave radar systems.
  3. Decide upon suitable measurement methodologies to characterise and verify the performance of microwave radar systems and undertake measurements to characterise and verify the performance of microwave radar systems.
  4. Source information from the public domain and analyse that information.
  5. Communicate findings through written reports.
  6. Work in a team environment with minimal direction from a supervisor.


Overview of Learning Activities

Student Learning occurs through the following experiences and evaluation processes:

  • Attendance at lectorials where the syllabus material will be presented.
  • Completion of the tutorial questions which consist of numerical and analytical problems.
  • Completion of writing assignments (group work) including design and analysis of a microwave system using available software. Both tutorials and assignments are designed to give feedback on your progress and understanding.
  • Private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to access course information and learning materials through RMIT’s online systems and will be provided with copies of additional materials in class. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided. You will also use laboratory equipment and computer software within the School during laboratory and assignment work.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 - Assignments, Total 30%
Assignment 1, Weighting 15%
Assignment 2, Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, & 2

Assessment Task 2 - Quizzes, Total 40%
Quiz 1, Weighting 20%
Quiz 2, Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 4

Assessment Task 3 - Laboratory Reports, Total 30%
Lab 1, Weighting 10%
Lab 2, Weighting 10%
Lab 3, Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4, 5, & 6

The written quiz provides an individual assessment of a student’s technical competence in the topics studied, problem-solving and decision-making, and design skills.

The assignments and laboratories assess a student’s technical competence in the topics studied, problem- solving, decision-making, and design skills. They also test the student’s ability to research material, work in a group environment and prepare technical documentation.