Jul 15, 2026

Course

ECE 444 — Antennas, Phased Arrays, and Radar Systems Fall 2026

Instructor

• Dr. Neil Rogers
• Office hours: TBD
• Contact: TBD

Meeting time & location

• TBD

Course overview

This course progresses from fundamental electromagnetics and antenna theory through antenna measurement, phased-array beamforming with the ADALM-PHASER platform, and FMCW radar concepts. Students combine theory and hands-on laboratories culminating in a capstone project integrating beamforming and radar signal processing.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe fundamental antenna properties (gain, directivity, polarization, impedance) and connect them to system-level radio performance.
2. Model, simulate, and measure common antenna types using industry-standard tools and lab equipment.
3. Apply phased-array theory (array factor, beam steering, tapering, null steering) using the ADALM-PHASER platform.
4. Analyze radar performance using the radar equation, detection theory, and FMCW signal processing (range, Doppler, CFAR).
5. Integrate array beamforming and radar signal processing into a working demonstration of tracking a moving target while suppressing a jammer.

Grading

Component	Weight
Homework	TBD
Labs	TBD
Midterm	TBD
Capstone project	TBD
Final exam	TBD

Policies

Placeholder — academic integrity, attendance, late work, accommodations, etc.

Schedule

Lessons link to notes on the course home. Labs are marked LAB.

Module 1 — Foundations of Electromagnetics and Antennas

1. Introduction to Antennas and Field Regions — reactive near-field, radiating near-field, far-field
2. Basic Properties and Terminology — gain, directivity, effective area, beamwidth, boresight, lobes
3. Polarization and Bandwidth
4. Impedance, Feeding, and Baluns
5. Radiation Integrals

Module 2 — Antenna Types, Simulation, and Measurement

1. Simple Resonant Antennas — isotropic radiators, half-wave dipoles
2. Dipole Simulation Lab (LAB)
3. Loop and Monopole Antennas
4. Patch, Slot, and Horn Antennas
5. High-Gain Antennas — reflectors, Yagi-Uda, arrays
6. Pattern Measurement Theory — anechoic chambers, near-field / far-field transformations, standard gain horns
7. Measurement Lab Part 1 — Impedance and S-parameters (LAB)
8. Measurement Lab Part 2 — Radiation Patterns (LAB)

Module 3 — Arrays and ADALM-PHASER Beamforming

1. Aperture Distributions and Efficiency
2. The Array Factor and Pattern Multiplication
3. Introduction to Phased Array Hardware — ADALM-PHASER, SDR control
4. Beam Steering Theory
5. Beam Steering Lab (LAB)
6. Array Factor and Beamwidth Theory
7. Array Factor Lab (LAB)
8. Antenna Pattern Theory — true pattern vs. array factor
9. Antenna Pattern Lab (LAB) — AUT measurement using Phaser
10. Sidelobes and Tapering Theory
11. Tapering Lab (LAB)
12. Beam Squint and Quantization
13. Null Steering Theory
14. Null Steering Lab (LAB)

Module 4 — Radar Fundamentals and FMCW

1. The Radar Equation, Path Loss, and Radar Cross Section (RCS)
2. Range, Resolution, Doppler Effect, and Radar Types
3. Radar Detection Theory — PD, FAR, dwell time
4. Introduction to FMCW on Phaser
5. Range Calculations Lab (LAB)
6. Range Waterfall Lab (LAB)
7. Range-Doppler Lab (LAB)
8. Moving Target Indication (MTI) Lab (LAB)
9. CFAR Processing Theory
10. CFAR Processing Lab (LAB)

Module 5 — Final Capstone Project

Scenario: Track a moving target while suppressing a static jammer.

1. Final Project Kickoff
2. Phase 1 — Array Optimization: design beam-steering weights, implement null-steering weights, evaluate array performance
3. Phase 2 — Radar Integration and Demonstration: integrate FMCW radar processing, perform Doppler target tracking, overlay radar tracking results onto the optimized antenna array pattern

Textbooks & materials

See the materials page.

Software & hardware

• ADALM-PHASER
• Antenna simulation software (TBD)
• Vector network analyzer (VNA) — for measurement labs
• Anechoic chamber — for pattern measurement labs