Detection and recognition of drones by using coherent micro Doppler LiDAR sensor

This article addresses a coherent detection scheme for small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) using the micro-Doppler effect of a continuous wave laser. With the rapid increase in UAV-related threats, the need for effective UAV detection and countermeasures is also growing. In addition to detecting small UAVs from a stand-off distance, recognizing them is crucial due to the presence of various natural flying objects in the sky. The proposed Doppler LiDAR system acquires and distinguishes the beating patterns of birds' wings and drone blades. This article also discusses an optical frequency stabilization scheme based on an optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) configuration. The photons reflected from the target are coherently amplified and converted into electronic signals using a complex signal laser interferometer. Object signatures are analyzed in the spectral domain and recognized using AI. The experimental setup and test results are also presented in this article.