Increasing the utility of bistatic microwave intrusion detection systems

Bistatic Microwave Intrusion Detection systems have been widely used within the nuclear power and facilities industry. As perimeter security is upgraded, the desirability to install a volumetric sensor becomes more important. The successful installation, with high Probability of Detection (Pd) and a low Nuisance Alarm Rate (NAR) requires a basic understanding of the systems' operating principles and requirements. When these fundamentals are understood, a wide variety of perimeter security problems can be solved. This paper discusses the basics of microwave motion detection, defines the common terms, and illustrates the normal applications of the sensor. Special applications, such as the use of reflectors, half-systems and stacked systems are also discussed