Mobile radar array

• US 20080136718A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Tietjen, Byron W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0245 Radar with phased array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3216 where the road or rail vehicle is only used as transportation means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

A mobile radar array system comprising a towable platform having a pair of wheels operably coupled thereto, the wheels adapted for rolling along a road surface; and an antenna array mounted on a side of at least one of the wheels, the antenna array, when energized, capable of providing a radiation pattern for detecting a moving object.

Claims

1. A mobile radar array system comprising:

a towable platform having a pair of wheels operably coupled thereto, said wheels adapted for rolling along a road surface; and

an antenna array mounted on a side of at least one of said wheels, said antenna array, when energized, capable of providing a radiation pattern for detecting a moving object.

2. The mobile radar array system of claim 1, further comprising a lift operably coupled to said platform to elevate said wheels.

3. The mobile radar array system according to claim 2, further comprising a rotatable member that causes said antenna array to revolve about an azimuthal axis in response to rotation of said member when said wheels are elevated.

4. The mobile radar array system of claim 3, wherein a rotatable axle is associated with each of said wheels to enable said wheels to rotate about a horizontal axis.

5. The mobile radar array system of claim 3, further comprising:

a housing coupled to the platform and disposed between the wheels and containing electronic modules for controlling said antenna array.

6. The mobile radar array system of claim 1, wherein a first antenna array is mounted on an outer side of one of said wheels, and a second antenna array is mounted on an outer side of the other of said wheels.

7. The mobile radar array system of claim 5, wherein the housing includes an axle extending therethrough, said axle operably coupled to said wheels for rotating said wheels about a horizontal axis.

8. The mobile radar array system of claim 7, wherein the wheels are operatively coupled to a rotatable member for revolving the antenna array about an azimuthal axis.

9. The mobile radar array system of claim 6, wherein the first and second antenna arrays are mounted to the wheels in opposed angular orientations.

10. The mobile radar array of claim 2, wherein the lift comprises a hydraulic jack.

11. A mobile radar array comprising:

a towable platform having wheels operably coupled thereto for rolling along the ground in a transport mode;

a radar antenna array mounted on an outer side of one of the wheels;

a lift operably coupled to the platform for elevating the wheels from the ground surface in a deployment mode; and

a rotatable member for revolving the wheels about an azimuthal axis in said deployment mode.

12. The mobile radar array of claim 11, further comprising a housing containing an electronic control assembly for controlling said radar antenna array and disposed between said wheels.

13. The mobile radar array of claim 12, wherein said housing is operably coupled to said wheels and rotatable about said azimuthal axis with said wheels in said deployment mode.

14. The mobile radar array of claim 11, wherein said lift comprises a hydraulic jack.

15. The mobile radar array of claim 12, further comprising a secondary antenna disposed on top of said housing.

16. The mobile radar array of claim 15, wherein said secondary antenna disposed on top of said housing is an IFF antenna.

17. A method of providing a mobile radar system comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle platform and operably coupling said platform to a rotatable axle,

coupling one wheel to each end of said axle,

providing a housing on said platform between said wheels,

mounting a first antenna about a hub portion of at least one of said wheels,

coupling said platform to a vehicle to transport said first antenna and housing during a transportation mode, wherein said wheels roll on the ground and support said platform in response to said vehicle movement,

elevating said wheels in a radar operating mode when said vehicle is not in said transportation mode, to raise said wheels above the ground, and

energizing said first antenna when said wheels are raised during a radar operating mode.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including the step of revolving the wheels about an azimuthal axis during said radar operating mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising rotating the wheel about a horizontal axis to position the radar antenna array in a given orientation prior to said step of revolving.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising placing antenna energizing electronics in said housing.