Beamforming for Radar Systems on COTS Heterogeneous Computing Platforms

Abstract: The introduction of high-speed analog-to-digital converters has resulted in many of the traditional front-end and sub-array combining functions of multi-function, phased-array radar systems being performed in the digital rather than in the analog domain. Due to the intense amount of processing that is required, many of these functions had to be realized in hardware. This was originally accomplished using VLSI ASICs. However, the advent of multi-million gate field-programmable gate array (FPGA) has permitted these complex digital processing functions to be put in small packages with a degree of design flexibility that is normally associated only with software. This permits more of the radar functions to be realized in commercial off-theshelf (COTS) hardware by obviating the need of full-custom VLSI in many cases.