Scheme design of the optimal background clutter suppression for impulse radio ultrawide band radar in complex fire environment: a simulation and experimental study

Abstract

.Impulse radio ultrawide band (IR-UWB) radar possesses several advantages, such as heat flow insensitivity, high resolution, great penetration, good mobility, and lightweight, making it a promising technology for detecting and rescuing individuals trapped in fire scenarios. However, reliable detection and extraction of vital signs of trapped people in the presence of complex fire environment, such as water droplets, smoke, wall occlusions, and reflections, require an optimal background clutter suppression scheme designed specifically for fire scenarios. This study comprehensively evaluates 20 background noise suppression schemes using an exhaustive approach that involves constructing radar echo simulation signals and designing an evaluation method for algorithms. The practical applicability of the improved design solutions was evaluated by conducting small-scale fire experiments in an acrylic chamber. The results indicate that the designed scheme is effective in overcoming the background interference from the combustion environment and is capable of supporting subsequent trajectory identification and vital sign extraction in the fire scene environment.