A 300–1300 MHz Single Antenna Digital-FMCW Ground Penetrating Radar for the Mars Science Helicopter with Switched-Gain Calibration to Improve Dynamic Range

This paper presents a ground penetrating radar operating at 300–1300 MHz for exploring the shallow sub-surface of Mars. As the radar is intended to be deployed to Mar's surface it is required to be extremely compact, limiting it to a single shared antenna topology where TX to RX leakage, and not noise limits the dynamic range achievable with an FMCW waveform. To Overcome this, the authors demonstrate a switched gain technique to improve the dynamic range 10-15dB across the radar's IF bandwidth.