The NVESD templar radar: Results from the initial data collection

The U.S. Army has recently developed a single-operator, low frequency, non-motorized experimental radar system called “Templar”. This system is intended to collect data at geometries approximating those encountered by small, unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). As a result, it is smaller than typical vehicle-mounted systems, enabling it to be pulled by the operator and more easily image areas that are not accessible to motorized, vehicle-mounted systems. Since it is intended to operate at lower frequencies (500 MHz – 1500 MHz), its transmit and receive antennas are larger than those of many airborne systems. Hence, an appropriate physical structure—including a mast and a cart to carry necessary electronics—were required elements of the system design. In what follows we describe the system in more detail, and we discuss the initial data collections performed to verify system performance, noting certain problems encountered. Finally, we examine imagery from this initial data set and present plans for future data collection and processing.