Can a single VST generate more than 1 target using a mmWave head?

[blackburnite]

Can a single VST, by itself, generate more than 1 target using a mmWave head?  Can it do so in conjunction with some other PXI module or do you actually need one VST for every generated target?

[Princealimagicalhe]

Blackburnite,

This is Ali from Applications at National Instruments. I had a couple of clarifications about your question.

Are you trying to produce or imitate multiple channels on the same head?

How far apart are your targets soaced?

Is there channel emulation?

We usually don't get requests like this so I was curious about the overall application. 

[blackburnite]

So the application is automotive radar emulation, so based on that there would be channel emulation and most likely multiple channels depending on what radar sensor is used.  Targets would be simulated vehicles so a few meters apart typically.

I was looking at the off-the-shelf VRTS option NI has but integrated with a more extensive PXI setup for other portions of a more complete HiL system.  However that system has some delay generators in addition to the VSTs and I'm admittedly not an RF engineer so I'm not certain if those have to do with generating additional targets or adding capabilities like doppler shift for velocity emulation as well.

[Princealimagicalhe]

Blackburnite,

 Thanks, that clarifies things quite a bit. So in the VRTS Product Demo and flyer (linked below), 2 VSTs theoritically can support 4 targets so I would argue that it is possible.

http://www.ni.com/vrts/

http://www.ni.com/pdf/product-flyers/vrts.pdf

That being said, I highly recommend looking into the page and reaching out to a specialized NI Engineer for further VRTS questions.

Let me know if you have any further questions!

[Spex · Accepted solution]

Hi Blackburnite,

The VRTS is an integrated system for automotive radar object emulation.  It requires the PXIe-5840 VST, the NI-5692 Variable Delay Generator (VDG), and the mmRH-3608 mmWave radio head to perform target simulation from 2.6m to 300+ meters.  The system can scale from 1 to N targets with one VDG per target and one VST per two targets.  A four target system can fit within an 18-slot PXIexpress chassis.

As Ali mentioned above, you can reach out to me via the email address linked in her post to get more direct information.

Regards,