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Vehicle Reflection

Contents -- Radar Cross Section (RCS) | Automobile RCS | Multiple Vehicles
Radar Cross Section (RCS)

Radar cross section (RCS) is a measure of an objects' reflectivity, reflected energy divided by incident energy. Most objects scatter most of the incident energy, reflecting only a small fraction back to the radar. Large objects usually, but not always, have large reflections and a longer radar detection range.

The RCS dimension is in area, most commonly in square meters (m2), or decibels with respect to 1 square meter (dBsm). Actual object area and RCS area use the same dimension, but are different concepts. RCS measures energy reflected based on incident energy and accounts for size, shape, directivity and reflectivity.

There are 6 major factors that affect an objects' RCS.

Object
  • Size
  • Shape
  • Reflectivity
Radar Parameters
  • Transmit Frequency
  • Signal Polarization
  • Angle to Target

Shape
Flat surfaces reflect energy better than contoured shapes. Edges and cavities with diameters on the order of wavelength tend to be good reflectors. Shape can be as important as, or even more important than, physical size.

Some extreme examples include stealth aircraft such as the F-117 light bomber and B-2 bomber, reported to have RCS's on the order of the size of insects. The St. Louis Gateway Arch, a stainless steel 3 sided catenary curve structure 630 feet tall with a 630 foot base, is almost completely invisible to radar.

Reflectivity
All metals and alloys are excellent reflectors at all frequencies. Metal screens with gap spacing less than a quarter wavelength are as reflective as a solid surface. At microwave frequencies carbon composites, fiberglass, and plastics are more transparent than reflective.

Band - Frequency 1/4 Wavelength
X - 10.525 GHz 0.28 inches = 4.12 mm
K - 24.15 GHz 0.12 inches = 3.10 mm
Ka - 33.4 GHz 0.088 inches = 2.24 mm
Ka - 36.0 GHz 0.082 inches = 2.08 mm

Virtually everything is reflective, the degree of reflectivity varies with material and frequency.

Frequency / Polarization
RCS depends on frequency and polarization. All electromagnetic waves have a polarization which is the orientation of the transmitted signal electric field, E-field. Common polarizations include vertical, horizontal, right hand circular, and left hand circular. Other polarizations include linear angled and elliptical. Police radars tend to use vertical or circular polarization.

Different frequencies or polarizations will produce different RCS patterns for the same object. Even ground reflections vary with frequency and polarization. In general the higher the frequency the larger the RCS.

Angle
Most objects, spheres are an exception, reflect different amounts of energy for different angles. Many times when RCS is stated it will be an average of all important angles. Most automobiles have a larger RCS from the rear than the front.

RCS examples
For a class of objects the larger the object the larger the RCS. Objects that do the same tasks tend to be the same shape and made up of the same materials. For physical size vehicles have relatively large RCS's compared to aircraft and watercraft.

Radar Cross Sections
in Square Meters (m2)

Vehicles
Pickup Truck 200
Car 100
Aircraft
Jumbo Jet 100
Large Jet Airliner or Bomber 40
Medium Jet Airliner or Bomber 20
Large Fighter 6
4 Passenger Jet/Small Fighter 2
Small Single Engine Aircraft 1
Conventional Winged Missile 0.5
Watercraft
Cabin Cruiser 10
Small Pleasure Boat 2
Small Open Boat 0.02
Wildlife
large bird 0.01
Insect 0.00001

Source: Introduction to Radar Systems, Second Edition, Merril I. Skolnik, page 44, 1980.

At microwave frequencies average RCS can vary from 0.00001 m2 for an insect to over 200 m2 for a for a pickup truck. Depending on frequency a man measures about 1 - 4 m2. Weather, rain, sleet, hail, snow, fog, and clouds vary from about 100 - 10,000 m2, and are extremely frequency and polarization dependent. Ground, clutter, varies from about 1,000 - 100,000 m2.

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Automobile RCS

Typical automobile radar cross sections vary from about 10 to 100 or more square meters. Trucks are on the order of hundreds of square meters.

Measured Car RCS's in Square Meters (m2)
X Band
10 GHz
Ka Band
35 GHz
Year Make Model Front Rear Front Rear
1970 Dodge Pickup 200 300 84 670
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 100 10 110 73
1972 Dodge Dart 100 100 290 110
1970 AMC Gremlin 200 32 84 73
1965 Ford Mustang
Convertible
10 100 55 42
1966 Chevrolet Corvette 10 32 28 28
1967 Ford Cortina 10 10 84 42
Bicycle Coasting 20 2
Bicycle Pedaling 2 7
Man Walking 1 1 3 4
Corner Reflector 100 - 1300 -

Source: System Considerations for the Design of Radar Braking Sensors, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol VT-26, no. 2, page 151-160, May 1977.

The Corvette has a low RCS because a fiberglass body is much less reflective then a metal body. The Mustang convertible also has a low RCS in large part due to not having a metal roof. A vehicle's RCS is influenced by all the reflectors on the vehicle.

Vehicle Reflectors
Large Reflectors Additional Reflectors
  • Vehicle Body
  • Radiator / Grill
  • Bumper
  • License Plate
  • antennae
    - radar detector
    - AM/FM radio
    - Collision Avoidance Radar
    - Vehicle Cell Phone
    - Amateur Radio)
    - Business Radio
  • Head and Tail Lights
  • Turn Signals
  • Mirrors
  • Driver and Passengers

A radar detector increases a vehicle RCS because the detector antenna is a good radar reflector. Some police jammer antennas are reported to increase radar detection range 10% to 30%.

Some electrically heated windshields have metal film coatings reflective to microwave signals. These windshields will increase a vehicle's RCS dramatically, not to mention prevent the use of a radar or radar detector from behind the windshield.

Estimated Vehicle RCS
Vehicle Type m2
RV
Full Size Pickup
Large Car
Mid Size Car
Small Car
Motorcycle
Bycycle
400
200
120
60
30
10
5
RV - Recreation Vehicle

For motorist with a vehicle that has a small RCS the good news is the vehicle is harder to track, the bad news is the vehicle may be mistaken for a more distant vehicle. Motorcycles are especially vulnerable because the RCS is so small compared to cars and trucks, on the order of 2 to 8 times smaller than a car, 13 times smaller than a pickup truck, and 27 times smaller than an RV.

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Multiple Vehicles

A vehicle with a large RCS could have the same echo signal power at a greater range than a close small vehicle. The range a distant large vehicle has the same signal return power or greater is a function of both vehicles' RCS and the range of the close small vehicle.

Vehicle Ranges for Equal Echo Power

Fig 3.6-1
Close Smaller Vehicle 1
R1 = Radar Range to Vehicle 1
rcs1 = Vehicle 1 Radar Cross Section
Distant Larger Vehicle 2
R2 = Radar Range to Vehicle 2
rcs2 = Vehicle 2 Radar Cross Section

In the range equation everything cancels out except for range and the RCS's. The result shows the range difference is a function of range of close vehicle, and the vehicles' RCS ratio.

Equation 3.6-1

The illustration below graphs the range difference (Rd) between 2 vehicles when the received signals from both vehicles are equal. The difference is a function of close small vehicle 1 range (R1) from the radar and the ratio of Vehicle 2 RCS / Vehicle 1 RCS.

Figure 3.6-2 -- Distance Between Vehicles when Echoes Equal
Both range scales (R1 and Rd) in the same dimensions (feet, yards, meters, etc.).

Fig 3.6-2

A radar 500 feet (R1) from a small car with an RCS of 30 m2 receives the same signal echo strength from a full size car with an RCS of 120 m2 that is 210 feet behind the small car. The RCS ratio is 120/30 which equals 4.

Two or more vehicles traveling close to each other and at the same speed may appear to the radar as a single extended target, with an RCS greater than the sum of all target RCS's. Microwave traffic radar uses time and frequency to resolve targets, multiple targets in the beam at the same time and at or near the same speed produce an echo return signal that is the vector sum of both target vehicles.

Password section -- Ranges 2 Echoes are Equal Calculator


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