From domestically-developed fighter jets in the air to Aegis-equipped navy vessels at sea, ‘radar’ technology acts as a human eye and plays a pivotal role in state-of-the-art defense weaponry. Radar sensors beam electromagnetic waves to objects and analyze the reflected signals to capture information about these objects. As radar devices become increasingly smaller and more affordable, radar technology is finding more and more ways it can not only be applied to the defense sector but also in our day-to-day lives.

The Intelligent Radar System and Signal Processing Laboratory headed by professor Kyung-Tae Kim at the Department of Electrical Engineering, POSTECH, is developing radar technology in diverse forms applicable to a wide spectrum of areas, from national defense to private sector industries while working to improve its performance with the help of signal processing technology. Leveraging electromagnetic waves that travel long distances, radar technology is able to effectively detect far-away objects and expediently seize the pertinent information. Another added convenience is that this technology reliably supports information gathering, regardless of time, day or night.

The Lab is a prominent player in the conventional research area of national defense radar. In conjunction with the Agency for Defense Development and the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, researchers at the Lab have developed a range of radar systems for the purpose of protecting our nation. The Lab was also behind the development of spaceborne imaging radar technology mounted on ‘Arirang-5’, a multi-purpose satellite that Korea launched. Serving as the next-generation imaging radar research system center and the next-generation defense research center, the Lab is fully committed to advancing research on radar technology.

Recently, researchers at the Lab have been focused on implementing radar technology to serve the needs of the private sector. One such example is the work underway to install radar devices within buildings or rooms to detect human presence without the risk of privacy infringement. This easily averts any issues of privacy breach that often accompany the installation of camera sensors. Radar devices are also able to measure individual breathing and/or heart rates and thus can serve as the IoT sensors installed within smart buildings. Radar is garnering attention in another private sector area, for its role in automotive sensors mounted on autonomous driving vehicles.

The Intelligent Radar System and Signal Processing Laboratory firmly believes that its future research should be conducted in a way that extends the scope of radar applications. Researchers at the Lab expect that radar technology, capable of collecting a variety of data on people and objects, will surely enrich the lives of people. The Lab aims to harness the power of AI to engineer intelligent radar technology. This will both contribute to bettering national defense and play a critical a critical role in providing the sensors required for smart cities and other future technologies.