Project Mashiro

Project Mashiro
Radar imaging with custom hardware and software
Tim S. and Pranav S.
Abstract · Media · About · Discussion

   

Abstract

The ability for autonomous robots to understand their surroundings is instrumental for their ability to interact and navigate the environment safely and effectively. Current autonomous platforms rely heavily on LIDAR and optical camera sensors due their high resolution, compact form factor, and integration accessibility.

In emergent applications for robotics like search and rescue as well as situations that push the envelope within mainstream applications, harsh environmental conditions like dust, rain, fog, or snow limit the performance of contemporary optical sensor suites.

Radar imaging uses lower frequencies with wavelengths in the millimeter to centimeter range, while optical methods utilize wavelengths in the hundreds of nanometer range. The longer wavelength of radiofrequency sensing increases dependability in certain situations at the expense of yielding inferior resolution.

Our system operates at 5.8 GHz for improved immunity from environmental interference compared to typical 77 GHz automotive systems, as well as increased resolution from radar platforms that operate at an even lower frequency. We also apply Synthetic Aperture Radar imaging technique to enhance effective resolution by utilizing the motion of the platform to synthesize a larger virtual aperture aided by computation in hardware.

We developed an alternative radar architecture featuring two independent synthesizers and downconverters which allow much greater flexibility and performance compared to existing systems which produce baseband at near zero frequency. Our platform is also physically compact, economical, and flexible in realization, which makes it suitable for deployment in size constrained applications and easily extended to fit specific use cases.

Mashiro NSv2, our latest design

Mashiro NSv2 block diagram

   

Media

Here are some resources related to Project Mashiro.

Presentation on Google Slides

This video showcases our progress as of our first iteration. Please watch from 5:00 to 8:00 for the essential information. If you could spare the time, we do encourage you to watch the entire video. We put a lot of effort into it.

   

About

We are Tim and Pranav. We started Project Mashiro around August 2020.

   

Tim S.

Hello, I'm Tim. There's two things that I really really like: electrical engineering and watching good anime. I've been making things with salvaged parts since elementary school, accumulating experience and expertise over time. I'm fascinated with all the advanced EE stuff like high speed digital design and vital/mission critical/hard real time systems. I hope to use Project Mashiro as an opportunity to explore millimeterwave distributed element circuit design and radiofrequency sensing. When I'm not learning about EE, I spend my time being a weeb. I think Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita is very underrated, and OMORI is an amazingly crafted game.

I make all the circuits and general design for Project Mashiro.

   

Pranav S.

Hi, I'm Pranav, a student from Oregon. I'm primarily interested in statistics, signal processing, and its applications. In the past, I have explored a host of areas like economics, CS, and aeronautics before concluding that electrical engineering with data sciences are fields I hope to pursue. Past projects with Tim like Canary Flight taught me about power systems, communication protocols, aeronautics, and general design skills. Bringing knowledge from past experiences to Project Mashiro, I hope to learn more in the field of radars. When bored, I like to make origami, build bikes, and read cool books (currently reading How to win friends and influence people). I also play golf for a high-school team and like to go running (hoping to run a half-marathon one day). Feel free to contact me at pranav@csw.cx!

I write all the emails and do all the signal processing stuff for Project Mashiro.

   

Discussion