AERIS-10 Open Source
Phased Array Radar

A low-cost, hackable 10.5 GHz phased array radar system with Pulse LFM modulation. Designed for researchers, drone developers, and serious SDR enthusiasts.

πŸ”“ Open Source πŸ“‘ 10.5 GHz 🎯 3km / 20km Range πŸ”„ Electronic Beam Steering
Star on GitHub πŸ“– Documentation πŸ› Report Bug

Project Overview

Democratizing radar technology through open-source hardware and software

🎯

Purpose-Built

Designed for researchers, drone developers, and SDR enthusiasts who need a capable, hackable radar platform.

πŸ”“

100% Open Source

Complete schematics, PCB layouts, firmware, and software available for modification and learning.

⚑

Real-Time Processing

FPGA-based signal processing for pulse compression, Doppler FFT, MTI, and CFAR detection.

🌍

GPS & IMU Integrated

Real-time position tracking, attitude correction, and map visualization for geolocated targets.

Technical Specifications

Two versions available to match your range requirements

Specification AERIS-10N (Nexus) AERIS-10X (Extended)
Frequency10.5 GHz10.5 GHz
Max Range3 km20 km
Antenna Type8Γ—16 Patch Array32Γ—16 Slotted Waveguide
Beam SteeringElectronic (Β±45Β°)Electronic (Β±45Β°)
Mechanical Scan360Β° (stepper motor)360Β° (stepper motor)
Output Power~1W10W (GaN amplifier)
ProcessingFPGA + STM32FPGA + STM32

System Architecture

Modular design with specialized components for optimal performance

β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”
β”‚                      Antenna Array                           β”‚
β”‚         (8x16 patch / 32x16 slotted waveguide)              β”‚
β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜
                      β”‚
β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”
β”‚                     Main Board                               β”‚
β”‚  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  XC7A100T     β”‚  β”‚  STM32F746   β”‚  β”‚  16x ADTR1107   β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  FPGA         β”‚  β”‚  MCU         β”‚  β”‚  Front End      β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜   β”‚
β”‚  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  4x ADAR1000  β”‚  β”‚  2x ADF4382  β”‚  β”‚  2x LT5552      β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  Phase Shift  β”‚  β”‚  Synthesizersβ”‚  β”‚  Mixers         β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜   β”‚
β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”¬β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜
                      β”‚
β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”΄β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”
β”‚                  Support Modules                             β”‚
β”‚  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”  β”Œβ”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  AD9523-1     β”‚  β”‚  GPS Module  β”‚  β”‚  GY-85 IMU      β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β”‚  Clock Gen    β”‚  β”‚              β”‚  β”‚                 β”‚   β”‚
β”‚  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜  β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜   β”‚
β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜
            

πŸ“‘ Power Management Board

Supplies all necessary voltage levels with proper filtering and sequencing (controlled by microcontroller).

⏱️ Frequency Synthesizer Board

High-performance AD9523-1 low jitter clock generator with phase-aligned references for RX/TX, DAC, ADC, and FPGA.

πŸ”„ Main Board Components

DAC for chirp generation, LT5552 mixers, ADAR1000 phase shifters (4x), ADTR1107 front-end chips (16x).

πŸŽ›οΈ XC7A100T FPGA

Handles PLFM chirp generation, ADC data read, AGC, I/Q down-conversion, decimation, filtering, FFT, pulse compression, Doppler, MTI & CFAR processing.

βš™οΈ STM32F746 Microcontroller

Power sequencing, FPGA communication, peripheral configuration (clock generator, synthesizers, phase shifters, GPS, IMU, barometer, stepper motor, sensors).

πŸ”Š Power Amplifier Boards (10X only)

10W QPA2962 GaN amplifier for extended range capability.

Current Status

Alpha prototype - Actively seeking contributors and beta testers

βœ… Working Features

  • Beam formation from 16Γ—8 array
  • Electronic steering Β±45Β° elevation
  • Pulse LFM generation and reception
  • Basic target detection to 1km
  • Full FPGA processing pipeline
  • Pulse compression & Doppler processing
  • MTI & CFAR detection

🚧 In Progress

  • Python GUI-based radar processing
  • Multi-board synchronization
  • Extended range testing
  • Crowdfunding campaign
  • Documentation & assembly guides

Get Involved

Join the open-source radar revolution

🀝 We're Actively Seeking

πŸŽ“ University Researchers 🚁 Drone Startups πŸ”§ Advanced Makers πŸ“‘ RF Engineers πŸ–₯️ FPGA Developers 🐍 Python/C++ Developers

πŸ“¬ Connect With Us

Documentation

Everything you need to build, modify, and operate the AERIS-10 radar

πŸ“˜ Hardware Design Guide

Schematics, PCB layouts, BOM, and assembly instructions.

πŸ’Ύ Firmware Development

STM32 firmware and FPGA bitstream programming guide.

πŸ”¬ Signal Processing

Detailed explanation of the FPGA processing pipeline.

🐍 Python SDK

GUI and API reference for data visualization and control.

βš™οΈ Calibration Guide

Step-by-step calibration procedures for optimal performance.

πŸ› οΈ Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions.