Design and Implementation of an Fpga-Based Direct Digital Synthesis Signal Generation for Radar Applications
Hardianto Hardianto, Rachmad Setiawan, Astria Nur Irfansyah, Rezki El Arif, Murry Raditya · 2025
Precise and stable signal generators are critical components in modern radar systems, particularly for Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) architectures that require signal generation in$T / R$modules. The challenge of generating signals with high flexibility and accuracy has driven the development of FPGA-Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) based solutions. This research develops and evaluates an FPGA DE10Lite DDS signal generator for radar Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) applications through comparison with the ST100 module. The methodology employs FPGA-based DDS implementation using 32-bit phase accumulator architecture integrated with external 16-bit AD5541 DAC and signal conditioning circuits. Performance evaluation includes static testing through oscilloscope measurements across parameters including amplitude accuracy, frequency stability, rise/fall time characteristics, signal linearity, and total harmonic distortion. Dynamic validation is conducted through pendulum detection experiments using K-MC1 radar module to assess detection capability and spectral quality under conditions. Test results demonstrate superior FPGA-DDS performance in 12 out of 13 parameters with significant improvements in amplitude accuracy, frequency stability, and signal quality, while showing equivalent detection capability (1.050 Hz) with enhanced spectral characteristics including cleaner baseline and improved signal-to-noise ratio. The FPGA-DDS solution proves to be a high-precision alternative for radar applications requiring excellent signal integrity.