DIY Synthetic Aperture Radar 118
An anonymous reader lets us know about a DIY synthetic aperture radar built for $240 in parts (give or take). Here's PDF slideware from the Ph.D. student's research. "Using a discarded garage door opener, an old cordless drill, and a collection of surplus microwave parts, a high resolution X-band linear rail synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system was developed for approximately $240 material cost. Entry into the field of radar cross section measurements or SAR algorithm development is often difficult due to the cost of high-end precision pulsed IF or other precision radar test instruments."
Re:Crooks (Score:3, Informative)
Old? (Score:2, Informative)
This seems to be from 2006/7...
A lot more than 240 (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Old? (Score:5, Informative)
$240 for them, but not for me (Score:3, Informative)
That total cost of 240$ is based on them acquiring used material at a radio swap meet, not scavenging it from old stuff I could find in my attic, and definitely no buying from some online supplier. That is, w/o a lot of luck, time, and knowledge- there is no way I could duplicate this effort with ease.
Re:A lot more than 240 (Score:4, Informative)
$150 to $450 on EBay, but still your point is valid.
Re:A lot more than 240 (Score:3, Informative)
Not counting computer, Windows, Labview and Matlab.
If anything, someone concerned with the cost would try to exclude the last two, as they alone make it more expensive than "high-cost" radars.
Re:SAR is really cool (Score:1, Informative)
Found it: http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/hardware/winner-radio-eye-in-the-sky
Re:Got all the microwave parts at hamfests? (Score:3, Informative)
However, I will admit that this is certainly beyond the capabilities of most people due to the lack test equipment that is needed to even test the parts found at the swap meat.