A Preliminary study on feasibility radar cross-section of foreign object debris for size classification

Abstract

In this paper, a preliminary evaluation study is conducted, which aiming to investigate the radar cross-section (RCS) value that is capable to be used as an input parameter for Artificial Neural network (ANN) backpropagation for foreign object debris (FOD) size classification. The experimental work procedure for dataset acquisition is described. The FOD simulator is used as the FOD target which is made of metal cylinder shape with nine various dimensions and its RCS is defined by using Maxwell’s equation. The location varying backscattered electromagnetic field from each target is measured for RCS calibration purposes. It is found that by using the received signal from radar, which is the RCS of the target and its locations, it can be utilized as input parameters of backpropagation algorithms. The ANN classification application is to define its size by the ranges; small (-30.99 to -21 dBsm), medium (-20.99 to -11 dBsm), and large (-10.99 to 0 dBsm). The interference signal getting from measurement (22.46 to 25.2 dBsm) exhibited good reflectivity behavior. The acquired input showed to be useful for ANN for FOD size classification.