Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR

„Deorbiting“ Systems are to ensure less debris and more safety for satellites in space. Integrated into the space systems, these should allow them to crash deliberately after their mission ends. The commitment of the space operators to these measures and thus the associated technologies are still relatively young. With the space observation radar TIRA, the Fraunhofer FHR supports manufacturers and operators with analyzes of the systems in use, as such, providing important information on their correct function and how they can be further optimized for their important task. Their space radars TIRA and GESTRA present researchers with examples of their use at the ESA Neo and Debris Detection Conference from 22 to 24 January 2019, in Darmstadt.

An increasingly dense cloud of space junk is orbiting Earth and endangering telecommunications, navigation and many other satellite-dependent functions. There is no orbital garbage collection. Radar systems can detect these particles and their trajectory, then warn satellite operators of any impending collision. Fraunhofer FHR in Germany is making an essential contribution to space observation with the complementary systems GESTRA and TIRA. Scientists will present how these systems work to 4000 space experts at the International Astronautical Congress IAC from the 1. to the 5. of October 2018 in Bremen (Stand F70).

Constantly changing environments represent an enormous challenge for modern driver assistance systems. To meet these challenges, software-controlled automotive radars offer entirely new opportunities: They are compact, low-cost, and also extremely versatile and highly reconfigurable. By applying cognitive methods, they can be used to develop radars that intelligently and automatically adapt their parameters to the individual situations during operation. Fraunhofer FHR will present such an adaptive radar at the European Microwave Week at booth 33 in Madrid from September 25 – 27, 2018. The demonstrator accurately measures changing distances and positions – quickly and intelligently – while optimizing the use of resources.

When a person goes overboard, finding her or him quickly is crucial in order to have a chance of rescuing the shipwrecked person. With the SEERAD project, Fraunhofer FHR is joining forces with FH Aachen and Raytheon Anschütz GmbH to develop a new sea rescue radar that is not only capable of reliably locating individual persons or small boats over long distances but also cheaper than the current systems. With this system, small transponders located in life jackets, for instance, will reflect the signals of future maritime radars, which then receive these signals using an extension module. The scientists will present SEERAD as well as a new electronically controlled antenna for a highly accurate maritime radar at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg (hall B6, booth 319) from September 4 - 7, 2018.