Precise radial velocity estimation using an FMCW radar

This contribution addresses radial velocity estimation with a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system. The estimator we propose aligns the up- and downchirp information of adjacent sweeps including the phasing of the chirps. The resulting one-dimensional signal depends on the radial velocity and can therefore be used for estimation purposes. Because the phase information between nearby chirps is preserved, the accuracy is seriously increased compared to estimators that evaluate only the frequency shift due to the Doppler effect. Additionally, the range of velocities that can be estimated without ambiguity constraints is extended considerably when compared to a standard range-Doppler procedure.