Communication, information, systems and sensors

The research unit is conducting research in the domain of antenna design and wave propagation. It is also conducting Electromagnetic Compliance (EMC) and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) testing in compliance with civilian and military standards (EN 61000, MIL-STD-461D and SDIP-27).

The near-field electromagnetics (NFEM) research unit focuses on problems for which the far-field approximation can not be used and specific near-field phenomena play an important role. This is the case for a large number of devices such as electrical motors, passive magnetic detectors, (gradiometers, magnetometers…), electromagnetic induction sensors (EMI) (Metal detectors, wire detectors…) and ground penetrating radars, especially when the antenna is used in close proximity to the soil.

The research unit focuses on positioning-related problems, mostly using GNSS. In particular, in the field of GNSS, aspects such as performance comparison between different navigation services and their resistance to interference is evaluated. Moreover, the research unit is also active in the operational testing of the Galileo Public Regulated Service.

The aim of the Image Processing Research Unit is to develop tools and methods for solving real world security and defence problems involving images, typically from airborne or spaceborne instruments. Activities range from the combined processing of radar images and optical images, to the extraction of battlefield situational awareness information using artificial intelligence.

Throughout the domain of sensors, the knowledge of the object signature (real or simulated) is primordial to understand the detection, reconnaissance and identification performances of these sensors. Although sensors in the radar domain (mostly active) and sensors in the optronics domain (mostly passive) rely on different working principles, the importance of the object signature within the chain of the sensor system is comparable. In optronics, research is conducted in the area of target detection, with application to drone detection and target masking using camouflage nets. Research is also conducted in the use of laser as non-lethal weapon, and amongst others, to blind cameras.

The Radio Networks research unit contributes to the evolution of the wireless technology by studying and developing algorithms for the lower layers of wireless networks. The main domains of activity resides in software-defined radios, with applications such as cognitive radios and indoor positioning.

The research interests are in the fields of array processing, bistatic radars including bistatic imaging and passive radars. Considered applications are for instance bistatic radar imaging and detection using bistatic radars.

The RF lab is equipped with state-of-the-art measurement apparatus (VNA, spectrum analyzers, I/Q arbitrary waveform generators, power amplifiers, …). This equipment is undergoing a yearly calibration.

Besides the low-power didactic benches essentially dedicated to teaching activities, the lab is also equipped with high-power (25kW) benches. The equipment comprises power converters and the associated A/D & D/A converters and real-time processing capabilities in order to develop and test control strategies.

For the evaluation of performance of the most common military sensors in the optronics domain, the lab is equipped with several fixed optical tables and the necessary test equipment. It provides the possibility to test the sensor performance in harsh conditions (i.e. in the presence of laser dazzlers or the use of camouflage materials).

The lab is equipped and organised to assess the drone detection performance in the RF, Radar, Optronics and Acoustics domain.

The department is operating a medium size semi-anechoic chamber (15 m²) mainly devoted to EMC and EMI testing in compliance with civilian and military standards (EN 61000, MIL-STD-461D and SDIP-27). The chamber is equipped with a rotating table and remote operation is possible.

A small (10m²) Faraday cage that can also be used as a mode-stirred reverberation chamber to perform immunity (EMI) testing.

The Signal and Image Centre has its own opportunistic cluster. It comprises about 150 cpus for a total of about 300GBytes of RAM and more than 130TBytes of disks and is running Linux. It is installed with Matlab, Labview, IDL/ENVI and the usual range of compilers and development tools.

The experimental radar range consists in a VNA-based radar able to operate in the frequency range between 1 and 26GHz. It can be configured either to measure RCS of small objects placed on a rotating table. The objects can be up to approximately 1m³. It can also be configured in SAR mode, the antennas being placed on a rail with a length of 3m.

The bistatic radar receiving platform consists in a dedicated 8 channels 16 bits 128MS/s acquisition system connected to an array antenna and the associated down-conversion RF electronics currently configured to receive signals in C-band (5GHz).

With a length of 15 m and a width of 4 m, the laser tunnel offers a controlled and safe environment for testing laser performance, as a stand-alone system, or in combination with optronics sensors. The tunnel is equipped with a fixed and a mobile optical table, a series of lasers, and detection and beam analysis equipment.