Rapid Phased Array prototyping with Analog Devices and X-Microwave 

Right, the X-MW system is targeted at professionals building phased array radar prototypes. So compared to that cost, and considering the time savings in getting working hardware for algorithm development, its actually a great deal of money saved. But for the more education focused, we are releasing a "phased array exploration system" called the ADALM-PHASER. It's a receive only 8 element linear array, with two channels of transmit. And ramping LO for FMCW chirps and pulse compression. We'll be launching it at IMS this year. So more information will be available around June 20th. ims-ieee.org/technical-program/workshops?date=2022-06-20

Another great way to get started is with the Pluto "Rev C." It exposes the 2nd Tx and Rx channel. And they are phase synchronous. So with that, you can have a 2 element beamformer and reproduce some of the basic phased array concepts -- like direction of arrival. You can also link multiple Pluto's together to add additional channels. Check out my video on it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ph0Kv4SgSuI.html If you do it, post it to youtube! I'd love to see what you get!

@@jonkraft Is it video now available ?

We have just to wait 4-5 years and the prices will drop. The only question for myself is how to learn the concepts with affordable hardware (I'm just starting SDR with RTL-SDR).

​@@norm1124 Yes, I definitely understand that. I think my next video will be on using the 2 channel Pluto for beamforming. It'll only be an array of 2, but it would allow you to explore beamforming concepts on both transmit and receive. Pluto is around $250

Yes, all info is here: wiki.analog.com/phaser

Yes, there's actually a reference design for how to use 8 ADAR1000's and 32 ADTR1107s here: www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/x-band-development-platform.html#eb-overview Schematics are here: wiki.analog.com/resources/eval/user-guides/stingray/userguide?s[]=stingray#documents

Yes, that's a good comment. I'll put the BOM in the video description. But the antenna board is available from X-Microwave. It is the same antenna used here: www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/x-band-development-platform.html#eb-overview

Thanks Adan! Yes, for more ADAR1000s, you'd just put them on different chip selects on the SPI bus. In fact, there's a complete reference design on how to do this with 8 ADAR1000s here: www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/x-band-development-platform.html

Right now, those files are not publicly available. But you can purchase the board from X-Microwave. I'll ask if we can make the files available. But if you just want a 10 GHz patch antenna to play around with, you can easily make this one: www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/10_5GHz__X_Band__Patch_Antenna.html

@@jonkraft Thanks Jon for sharing your experience with us. I wish more people are like this :)

Thanks Erik! Generally

@@jonkraft Again thx for the help, I also enjoyed the other videos you have made. I am currently trying to see if I can get myself a pluto sdr, as that seems like a nice way of getting started.

Generally,

No, the ADAR1000 only operates down to 8 GHz. For

Ha, thanks! But in all honesty it is other very smart people who made it easy for me to do this. So all the software, APIs, the X-MW mechanics/layout, etc. But I will pass along to them your kind words!

Hi Pete, yes you are absolutely right about the similarities between acoustic, optical, and RF phased array systems. All of the main concepts carry from each other, though I think each have some different terms and equations that they emphasize. Regarding RF, I'm not sure I understood your question, but certainly we can move up and down in frequency with RF mixers. For a more complete overview of RF phased array beamforming basics, you can check out a presentation I gave a couple years ago on the topic: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0hnWfTvETcU.html

@@jonkraft @Jon Kraft The mixer circuit would be the intended receiver. In the case of the directed speaker, it uses ultrasonic transducers between 20 and 40 kilohertz outside the human hearing range and because of the nature of air relatively short range before turning into thermal energy.. .. however In a phased array of these transducers, both the phase and frequency is modulated between transducers such that the difference is in the audible range only in a specific narrow direction or even just a point if the transducers are far enough apart and control accurate enough. Your ear is the mixer in that case. So in the analogous microwave system, You could say have 16, 10 GHz elements capable of very wide bandwidth modulation(GHz) & separated a significant distance, and you want to send a signal to an aprox 400 MHz and a 2.4 GHz receiver in two different locations at the same time without the risk of interception. Frequency and phase modulation in each element would have to be software controlled well enough that the desired heterodine frequency would be clear and in the desired location. ... The mixer circuit is basically the chosen receiver... I hope to be able to build a prototype that at least an ordinary AM radio would be able to receive a usable signal. I have no intention of introducing the complication of trying to emulate the air access protocols of multiple receivers on the fly. (Unless someone gives me many millions of dollars) What I'm asking is *What kind of components, that exist off the shelf, would I need to accomplish this?* At least in a general sense, Enough information so that I can at least make a logical comprehendible block diagram of how this would work. I already feel the need to apologize for having you take the time to read all this, I'm certainly not going to start asking for part numbers. Thank you very much for your response, and your videos.

@@petevenuti7355 I think this seems well beyond my expertise. But I wish you the best, and I hope you document your journey on youtube--I'd love to follow it.

Hi Sevide, can you connect with me on LinkedIn. I can help you better then. But I think the key here is to first download the Kuiper Linux for the raspberry pi. Then connect from the Rpi to the eval board via the SPI wires -- not the SDP-S board.

Yes, in fact that's the purpose of that ADAR1000 part. So you can definitely do that with the X-MW ADAR1000 board.

@@jonkraft Thanks for your response. So if I wanna do this I have to transmit a signal and then immediately change the device in receive mode? I want to make a phased array radar with 8 channels in X band.

@@MimisTube Yes, you can do that with the ADAR1000. That would be for pulsed radar, and it uses the same antenna array for Transmit as well as for receive. Or, you can setup a CW radar, using one array for transmit and a different array for receive. Generally, you'd do something like an FMCW chirp on that.

@@jonkraft Thanks again! I am interested in doing this setup for pulsed radar, but how I will be able to produce the transmit signal?

@@MimisTube Yes, for transmit you would need to use a switch between the Pluto and the mixer. Then switch between Rx and Tx.

Sorry, I can't help you with any of that. You can try contacting your Analog Devices sales person: www.analog.com/en/support/customer-service-resources/sales/find-sale-office-distributor.html

If I understand your question, you want to operate from 8-12 GHz. This is no problem, but I think the ADI antenna has a bandwidth of only 9.5-11 GHz. So you will see significant gain rolloff outside of there. So you should make your own antenna. Also, to avoid grating lobes, you would want to decrease the antenna spacing for >10GHz operation. Just contact X-microwave and they will send you a different interposer to make the spacing between antenna elements smaller. It connects the ADAR1000 to the antenna. It should be inexpensive.

@@jonkraft thanks for your reply..sir do you know any beamforming IC which is working from 2-10 GHz or 2-12 GHz.. ADAR1000 is from 8-18 GHz ..

@@sabirjamal2313 You could use the ADAR4002, with a summer/splitter: www.analog.com/en/products/adar4002.html

@@jonkraft sir how much time ADAR4002 will take to be available for use? i need it desperately

@@sabirjamal2313 It might be possible. We would need an NDA with your company, etc. Reach out to me at Jon.Kraft@analog.com, and I'll see if I can help you.

I'm only doing receive array stuff--and for that I don't need the heatsink. In fact, I don't turn the fan on either. But transmitting from the array does draw more power, so you may need the heatsink, and/or a fan, for that. You can buy this all at: quanticxmw.com/

No. But it is very popular, and I think that makes it hard for Analog Devices to build enough of the eval boards. Please contact your local ADI sales person and they can help you order one: www.analog.com/en/about-adi/corporate-information/sales-distribution.html

@@jonkraft Yes I understand. I searched almost all distributors but unfortunately not available. I liked your all videos and based on that, I decided to start a project for 16 elements beamforming array. I have ordered all other accessories (like ADTR1107EVALZ etc), but unfortunately ADAR1000EVALZ is not available and my project is stuck now.

@@IrfanKhan-oh7kb Wow, that'll be a lot of eval boards and cables! I think it will be much higher performance, and probably lower cost, to use the X-Microwave ADAR1000 boards for this. It integrates the ADTR1107s with an ADAR1000. But still gives you flexibility over choosing your operating frequency, lattice spacing, and antenna design. Alternatively, I believe the Stingray eval boards are in stock: wiki.analog.com/resources/eval/user-guides/stingray. They use 8 ADAR1000s, and include the ADTR1107s also.

The ADAR1000 chips are for sale, but I think you have to purchase through your Analog Devices sales person. Or you can buy this ADAR1000 module from X-Microwave. However, we also just released the "Phaser" -- it is an 8 element 10 GHz phased array experimentation/development board using 2 ADAR1000s. You can see it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B66JHcZMq_Q.html, www.analog.com/cn0566

​@@jonkraft Honestly, it's too much bureaucracy and that's the turnoff. Anything that's in an active distribution should be available for sale and ready to ship like most products on i.e. Digikey or mouser, instead of having to contact a dozen people who may or may not even reply back to you.