Using FMCW Radar and Range-Gated Clutter Suppression for Trombone Slide Position Detection

A major challenge of learning trombone as a beginner is accurately learning the locations of the slide positions. This study demonstrates the potential of using a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system to identify and provide accurate feedback on slide position. The theory of FMCW radar is first presented, along with a tailor-made clutter suppression algorithm to reject stationary clutters in the context of slide detection. Experimental data using a commercial 60-GHz FMCW radar module was taken with a variety of trombone slide motions to verify its ability to detect slide position in lab-based and realistic musical practice environments. Radar and audio data were acquired in tandem to show correspondence with the slide positioning. The results from the experiments show good agreement with audio data and the ability to reject clutters, highlighting the potential for FMCW radar to be used as an educational tool to provide feedback while learning the trombone.