Fraunhofer Institute for High frequency physics and radar techniques FHR Unsere Kernkompetenzen Unsere Kernkompetenzen KEY TECHnology radar
1 2 ABOUT Fraunhofer FHR As one of the largest radar research institutes in Europe, Fraunhofer FHR has profound expertise in practically all areas of radar technology and ultra-high frequency sensor technology. In its role as one of the leading European institutes, Fraunhofer FHR conducts extensive research in area of high frequency and radar techniques. For its partners, the institute develops customized concepts, techniques and systems for electromagnetic sensors from the microwave range through to the lower terahertz range. Over many decades, the institute and its employees have worked intensively to accumulate comprehensive know-how in this specialized field. With a budget of approx. 32 million and approx. 300 employees, Fraunhofer FHR is one of the largest radar research institutes in Europe. The institute conducts research on high frequency sensors for exact range or position determination and imaging systems with resolutions of up to 3.75 mm. With several anechoic measurement chambers, technology centers for the production of analog and digital circuit boards as well as high frequency technology through to the lower terahertz range, the institute offers excellent possibilities for the development of modern electromagnetic sensor systems. The application spectrum of these devices ranges from reconnaissance, surveillance and protection systems to real-time capable sensors for traffic and navigation as well as quality assurance and non-destructive testing within the framework of industrial applications. The systems from Fraunhofer FHR are renowned for their reliability and robustness: radar and millimeter wave sensors are ideal for complex tasks, also under critical ambient conditions. They operate under high temperatures, vibrations or zero visibility conditions caused by dense smoke, steam or fog. The techniques and systems developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR are used, on the one hand, to conduct research on new technologies and designs. On the other hand, the institute in cooperation with companies, authorities and other public bodies develops prototypes that are designed to master currently unsolved challenges. Here, the specific focus lies on the maturity of the systems and their suitability for mass production, thus ensuring that they can in cooperation with a partner be quickly transformed into a finished product. The technologies used range from traditional waveguide techniques to highlyintegrated silicon-germanium chips with frequencies of up to 300 GHz. Being a member of various groups and alliances, Fraunhofer FHR has access to wide-ranging expertise. Thanks to excellent networking both inside and outside the institute, Fraunhofer FHR can always form the optimal consortium to contend with major projects. When working on a research question, the focus does not lie on finding the most elegant solution but rather on identifying the best solution for the project partner and his requirements. Hence, Fraunhofer FHR follows the tradition of the scientist and entrepreneur after whom the Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft was named: cost-effective research with a view to creating practical applications and value-added for the users.
23 34 High frequency sensors can make important contributions in the areas of renewable energies, forest damage analysis, environmental pollution monitoring, recycling and accompanybusiness units In its business units, Fraunhofer FHR offers its customers and partners profound knowledge as well as extensive experience for the development of innovative products. Business unit: Defense Radar paves the way for the reconnaissance, surveillance and protection of land, water and air with systems of all sizes on various platforms. Fraunhofer FHR is a reliable partner for public-sector clients and industrial customers. The institute has extensive, transdisciplinary know-how in hardware and software. Business unit: Space Fraunhofer FHR develops customized systems and techniques for the detection, tracking, imaging and analysis of objects in orbit. The primary objective is to gather information about individual satellites and the general situation in space, perform risk analysis, provide support for missions and generate radar signatures. Business unit: Traffic Radar is one of the most important sensors for the early detection and avoidance of potentially dangerous situations in the traffic environment. In the business unit Traffic, Fraunhofer FHR has a broad spectrum of solutions which are interesting for practically all areas of the transport infrastructure (air, water and land transport). Business unit: Environment ing ecological research. Through counseling, design and implementation in hardware and software, Fraunhofer FHR helps its customers to operate in a sustainable manner both from an ecological and economical perspective. Business unit: Security The business unit Security focuses on the development of compact, active and passive security sensors with the highest level of performance and reduced costs. The portfolio embraces person scanners, scanners for letters, bags and cases, sensors for the detection of fire sources, mine and cavity detectors as well as MIMO systems for monitoring critical infrastructure and unstable slopes and buildings (e.g. along railway lines and roads and in the event of a major disaster). Business unit: Production High frequency technology can be employed to screen a wide range of optically non-transparent materials. The compact sensors work without ionizing radiation and are capable of detecting even the tiniest material differences. The capability to precisely measure distances in the micrometer range is the key to consistently high quality, parallel to zerodefect production in real time, in 24/7 operation and in-line at belt speeds of up to 20m/s.
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6 7 Core competencies Thanks to its interdisciplinary research activities, Fraunhofer FHR is in a position to design, construct, test and utilize complex techniques, systems, subsystems and components. The institute covers the entire development chain for radar and high frequency systems and therefore has a unique selling position. Electromagnetic fields Cognitive radar and classification Fraunhofer FHR s competence in the numerical calculation of electromagnetic fields, which forms the basis for the characterization of scattered fields and the design of innovative antennas and antenna arrays, was developed over decades. This core competency can be applied across all business units. High frequency systems With its ability to build innovative and complex assemblies in the microwave and millimeter wave range, the institute can provide its partners with demonstrators and first prototypes. The spectrum includes planar circuits, waveguide components, integrated circuits, broadband technology, array-based subsystems as well as active and passive radar systems. The miniaturization of components and subsystems is an attractive sub-competency. Signal processing and imaging Fraunhofer FHR is globally recognized and has received several awards for its activities in the area of signal processing. The institute has comprehensive expertise in the development and successful application of highly complex mathematical operations for the processing of single and multi-channel signals. These are used for scene reconstruction in the form of position and motion parameters of detected targets or for the computation of radar images. Fraunhofer FHR has developed techniques for the noncooperative classification of air, sea and land vehicles which are based directly on the measured radar signatures. These techniques are primarily used for military applications. An internally constructed experimental system is available for the generation of such signatures. The relevance of these processing algorithms is also increasing in the civilian sector where they are used, for example, to process sensor data in the area of autonomous driving. Space radar Due its work with the space observation radar TIRA and its competence in the area phased array-based space observation, Fraunhofer FHR has a unique selling position in field of radar-based space observation. The institute offers valuable assistance in issues relating to space debris, high-precision orbit detection, the detailed technical analysis of satellites as well as support in all satellite mission phases, from the launch through to re-entry.
Contact Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR Fraunhoferstr. 20 53343 Wachtberg Germany Phone: +49 228 9435-227 Fax: +49 228 9435-627 info@fhr.fraunhofer.de www.fhr.fraunhofer.de/en Head of the Institute: Dr.-Ing. Peter Knott (executive) Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dirk Heberling TItle GESTRA, a completely innovative and unique space observation radar, is currently being developed and constructed by Fraunhofer FHR. 1 From great heights, in poor visibility, by day or night: radar images are vital for reconnaissance. 2 Fraunhofer FHR has the resources and expertise to design and construct radar systems as small as a matchbox or as large as a 40-foot container. 3 Security is a central research area at Fraunhofer FHR. Various concepts and techniques, e.g. for the detection of small drones, are researched and further developed. 4 Sensor systems for all forms of transport constitute one of the prime application areas for radar. Fraunhofer FHR systems are installed on all platforms This automotive radar is used in over 40 types of vehicles. 5 The seventh sense: radar is a valuable sensor for autonomous systems as it is capable of collecting a multitude of information on the surrounding area. 6 Compact, flexible, efficient these are the essential characteristics of the industrial measurement techniques of Fraunhofer FHR. 7 Multimodal sensor systems pave the way for integrated data acquisition, particularly in the area of environmental monitoring.