Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T21:48:39.218Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A high-precision long-range cooperative radar system for gantry rail crane distance measurement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2015

Werner Scheiblhofer*
Affiliation:
Institute for Communications Engineering and RF-Systems, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenbergerstr. 69, Linz A-4040, Austria
Stefan Scheiblhofer
Affiliation:
Hainzl Industriesysteme GmbH, Industriezeile 56, Linz A-4030, Austria
Jochen O. Schrattenecker
Affiliation:
Institute for Communications Engineering and RF-Systems, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenbergerstr. 69, Linz A-4040, Austria
Simon Vogl
Affiliation:
VoXel Interaction Design, Altenbergerstr. 69, Linz A-4040, Austria
Andreas Stelzer
Affiliation:
Institute for Communications Engineering and RF-Systems, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenbergerstr. 69, Linz A-4040, Austria
*
Corresponding author: W. Scheiblhofer Email: w.scheiblhofer@nthfs.jku.at

Abstract

We present the implementation of a cooperative radar system on a gantry rail crane for distance measurements in an industrial environment. The measurement approach is based on the dual-ramp frequency-modulated continuous-wave principle, using identical sensor-nodes at the endpoints of the range of interest. Pseudo-range information is exchanged via a dedicated data-link between these stations. At the sensor-node a flexible high-performance signal processing and remote management engine is implemented. The system setup is controlled by a single host-PC, which is used as a man–machine interface for configuration of the remotely controlled measurement stations, system surveillance, and visualization of the measurement data. Indoor characterization of the developed hardware is sufficient for an efficient calibration of the system, minimizing distance offsets. On-site measurements at distances up to 1000 m with an accuracy better than 2 cm confirm the performance of the ranging system. Furthermore, the results are verified by simulation.

Type
Industrial and Engineering Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Scheiblhofer, W.; Scheiblhofer, S.; Schrattenecker, J.O.; Vogl, S. and Stelzer, A.: A High-Precision Long Range Cooperative Radar System for Rail Crane Distance Measurement, in Proc. European Microwave Conf., October 2014, 305308.Google Scholar
[2] Stelzer, A.; Jahn, M. and Scheiblhofer, S.: Precise distance measurement with cooperative FMCW radar units, in IEEE Radio and Wireless Symp., January 2008, 771774.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[3] Rhodes, W.T.; Myllylä, R.; Peiponen, K.-E. and Priezzhev, A.V.: Optical Measurement Techniques: Innovations for Industry and the Life Sciences, Ser. Optical Sciences, vol. 136, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2009.Google Scholar
[4] El-Rabbany, A.: Introduction to GPS: The Global Positioning System, ser. Artech House Mobile Communications Series, Artech House, Boston, MA, 2002.Google Scholar
[5] Drawil, N.M.; Amar, H.M. and Basir, O.A.: GPS localization accuracy classification: a context-based approach. IEEE Trans. Intell. Transp. Syst.,, 14 (1) (2013), 262273.Google Scholar
[6] Tan, H.-S. and Huang, J.: DGPS/INS-based vehicle positioning with novel DGPS noise processing, in American Control Conf. 2006, June 2006, 39663971.Google Scholar
[7] Adeel, M.; Muaz, M.; Latif, A. and Mahmud, S.: Sensitivity level enhancement in vehicular DGPS receivers to provide exact location tracking on sub-lane of a highway, in 10th Int. Conf. on Frontiers of Information Technology (FIT), December 2012, 292–297.Google Scholar
[8] Feger, R.; Pfeffer, C.; Scheiblhofer, W.; Schmid, C.M.; Lang, M.J. and Stelzer, A.: A 77-GHz cooperative radar system based on multi-channel FMCW stations for local positioning applications. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 61 (1) (2013), 676684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[9] Roehr, S.; Gulden, P. and Vossiek, M.: Precise distance and velocity measurement for real time locating in multipath environments using a frequency-modulated continuous-wave secondary radar approach. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 56 (10) (2008), 23292339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[10] Stove, A.G.: Linear FMCW radar techniques. IEE Proc. F. Radar Signal Processing, 5 (139) (1992), 343350.Google Scholar
[11] Scheiblhofer, S.; Schuster, S.; Jahn, M.; Feger, R. and Stelzer, A.: Performance analysis of cooperative FMCW radar distance measurement systems, in IEEE MTT-S Int., June 2008, 121–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[12] Banerjee, D.K.: PLL Performance, Simulation, and Design, 4th ed., Dog Ear Publishing, Indianapolis, IN, 2006.Google Scholar
[13] Scheiblhofer, S.; Treml, M.; Schuster, S.; Feger, R. and Stelzer, A.: A versatile FMCW radar system simulator for millimeter-wave applications, in Proc. European Microwave Conf., October 2008, 1604–1607.Google Scholar
[14] Jursa, A.S.: Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in the Lower Atmosphere, in Handbook of Geophysics and the Space Environment, 4th ed., December, 1985, 784785.Google Scholar
[15]The Weather Channel, LLC, (2014) Wetter Verlauf fuer Linz Airport, Austria. [Online]. Available: http://deutsch.wunderground.com/history/airport/LOWL Google Scholar
[16]The Optical Survey Equipment Ltd, (2012) Leica Viva CS10/CS15 User Manual. [Online]. Available: http://www.surveyequipment.com/pdfs/leica_viva_cs10_cs15_user_manual.pdf Google Scholar