PRELIMINARY VALIDATION OF A SDR-BASED RADAR FOR UAV DETECTION

The use of remotely controlled aerial vehicles for civilian and military purposes has grown exponentially in recent years. These vehicles, commonly referred to as drones and formally classified as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), offer new opportunities and services but also entail significant risks. For example, UAVs can be employed for home package deliveries, panoramic video recording, monitoring of large agricultural areas to optimize farming processes, delivery of medications to hard-to-reach locations, and more. However, these advantages are accompanied by emerging threats. For instance, drones can be used for illegal surveillance or, more generally, for criminal activities, as well as for executing coordinated military attacks involving drone swarms. Consequently, the ability to detect and monitor the presence of UAVs in a specific area has become essential for ensuring public safety and privacy. This thesis analyzes the range of anti-drone technologies currently proposed in the scientific literature, with a particular focus on RADAR systems useful for this purpose. Starting from an analysis of the state of the art, the ultimate goal of this thesis is the design of a portable, low-cost RADAR system based on Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology, specifically optimized for detecting UAV targets of the micro-drone type. This thesis investigates the range of anti-drone technologies currently proposed in the research literature, with particular emphasis on RADAR-based systems. Based on a comprehensive review of the state of the art, the project focuses on the design and development of a portable, low-cost RADAR system using a software-defined radio (SDR), specifically optimized for the detection of UAV targets.