The BYU SAR: A Small, Student-Built SAR for UAV Operation

Students at Brigham Young University have developed a new, low-cost synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, the BYU muSAR. The simple design, based on a linear frequency modulated continuous wave signal (LFM-CW), reduces the size and power compared to a conventional pulsed SAR system. This enables the BYU muSAR to fly on a small UAV, further reducing the cost of operation and extending the use of SAR into new areas. Design parameters and specifications for the BYU muSAR are presented in this paper, together with results from experimental data collection and test flights.