R3-A.1: Millimeter Wave Whole Body Scanning Radar Hardware for Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT)

The second phase of the Advanced Imaging Technology project is divided into hardware research (R3-A.1, this report), and algorithm research (R3-A.2, following report). The two parts work together to develop an improved multi-modality, portal-based passenger screening system. Millimeter-wave (mm-wave) scanning and x-ray backscatter, supplemented by Kinnect surface depth mapping, have been implemented. The 56-64 GHz mm-wave imaging system has produced several hardware and data processing innovations. These include: a second generation Blade Beam refl ector transmitting antenna that produces narrow target illumination to allow accurate stacked 2D reconstructions of the 3D surface; a carefully positioned multistatic, array receiving antenna for artifact-free imaging; and a fast data processing technique, based on the Fast Multipole Method (FMM) that produces 2D SAR images from scattered fi eld samples. The specially-built hardware platform facilitates reconfi gurable sensor placement in order to develop the multistatic imaging ra- dar system. In addition, a patent-pending algorithm for determining the dielectric constant of weak dielectric objects attached to the body - has been developed under R3-A.2 and tested in this project, and is now ready for transition to industry as part of a proposed DHS Task Order contract. These improvements lead to faster, more accurate whole body imaging to improve the security screening process, with proved detection capabilities validated by means of measurements carried out with a fi rst mm-wave portal prototype. I. PARTICIPANTS