New W-Band Radar Technology: An overview

Radar has been an indispensable tool in maritime navigation since it was developed during World War II. Today’s radar systems are primarily used for identifying large obstacles and usually operate in the S-Band or X-Band. The S-Band offers a range of 74 kilometers, while the X-Band with a shorter range provides better target resolution.

The new W-Band radar is an advanced technology that offers a remarkable improvement over traditional radar systems, such as X- and S-Band radars. It’s particularly useful for detecting small targets and measuring velocity. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in supporting autonomous ships by helping to gain clear situational awareness, identify obstacles, and accurately determine positions.

Picture it this way: the W-Band radar is like a sophisticated “eye” capable of seeing things the X-Band radar can’t. It can tackle a wide range of challenges, from navigating around wind farms and tidal lagoons to detecting smaller objects like kayaks and floating debris.

At present, ships heavily rely on satellite positioning, also known as the Global Positioning System (GPS). However, this system has its limitations. Without help from additional instruments like e.g. D-GPS, it can’t precisely enough determine a ship’s position. This can pose a problem when ships need to maneuver in ports, on inland waterways, or near offshore wind farms.

W-Band outdoes today’s typical combination of X-Band, S-Band and GPS in terms of image quality, accuracy, and resilience to adverse weather conditions. It can detect objects up to 500 meters away and can easily identify obstacles like bridge structures, wind farms, and smaller objects like swimmers and kayaks.

There are four main reasons why the W-Band radar is so useful:

• Obstacle detection and tracking: It can identify even smallest obstacles within a 500-meter radius.
• Precise position determination: It accurately determines where the ship is, down to a millimeter.
• Assisting dynamic positioning: It can help maintain a ship’s position and direction automatically.
• Autonomous berthing or docking: It can assist ship systems in docking autonomously.

In addition, W-Band radar technology offers some remarkable advantages that could make it attractive for maritime applications. Here are some additional benefits:

• Small Antennas: Due to the short wavelength of the W-Band, antennas and radar equipment can be smaller in size, making them ideal for use in confined spaces often found on ships.
• Penetration of Weather Conditions: W-Band radar signals can penetrate weather conditions such as fog and rain, making their application attractive under adverse weather conditions.
• High Spatial Resolution: Because of their high frequency, W-Band radars have high spatial resolution. This means that they can provide very detailed images, which can be beneficial when detecting smaller objects or closely spaced targets.
• Bandwidth Availability: The W-Band is a relatively underutilized part of the spectrum, meaning it offers a greater bandwidth for data transmissions. This could be advantageous for applications that require high data rates, such as detailed real-time radar imagery.

Another notable feature of the W-Band radar is its use of the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave technology. This is a type of radar that can simultaneously measure the distance and velocity of moving objects. It also operates under adverse weather conditions and provides highly accurate measurements.

However, there are still some challenges in using the W-Band, such as attenuation of signals by rain or the technical challenge of building robust and cost-effective W-Band systems.

All in all, the W-Band radar represents a remarkable advancement in radar technology and offers many benefits for modern maritime navigation.