Frequency-responsive RCS characteristics and scaling implications for ISAC development

TL;DR

This study investigates how the Radar Cross-Section (RCS) of various targets varies with frequency, providing insights crucial for developing advanced sensing systems and 6G ISAC standards.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive analysis of RCS frequency dependence across different targets and environments, informing future ISAC system design and modeling.

Findings

RCS varies significantly with frequency and target shape.

Material and geometry influence RCS scaling complexity.

Insights support improved sensing system development for 6G.

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation on the Radar Cross-Section (RCS) of various targets, with the objective of analysing how RCS properties vary with frequency. Targets such as an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), a pedestrian, and a full-scale car were measured in the frequency bands referred to in industry standards as FR2 and FR3. Measurements were taken in diverse environments, indoors and outdoors, to ensure comprehensive scenario coverage. The methodology employed in RCS extraction performs background subtraction, followed by time-domain gating to isolate the influence of the target. This analysis compares the RCS values and how the points of greatest contribution are distributed across different bands based on the range response of the RCS. Analysis of the results demonstrated how RCS values change with frequency and target shape, providing insights into the electromagnetic behaviour of these targets. Key findings highlight how much scaling RCS values based on frequency and geometry is complex and varies among different types of materials and shapes. These insights are instrumental for advancing sensing systems and enhancing 3GPP channel models, particularly for Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) techniques proposed for 6G standards.