Mar. 20 – A radar with a photonic “heart” has become the symbol of Italy’s research excellence thanks to the international recognition given to an article published in the prestigious scientific journal “Nature.” The project “Phodir” (Photonic -based fully digital radar system) is entirely Tuscan but funded by the ERC (European Research Council. Coordinated by researcher Antonella Bogoni at Sant’Anna, the project was conducted entirely in Pisa. The radar is characterized by an innovative signals’ generation and acquisition system, based on light laser and “readers,” that guarantees greater safety in airport and maritime traffic management, even in adverse weather conditions. Compared to a conventional radar, the photonic radar allows for better performance for different functions, is harder to intercept, is smaller and can also perform communication tasks. The new radar has already been tested at Pisa airport and at the Livorno port thanks to the active collaboration with the Air Force of Pisa, the Port Authority’s Management Development and Innovation Directorate, the Harbour Master and the Vallauri Institute of the Livorno Naval Academy. The “Phodir” project conducted under the coordination of Antonella Bogoni, researcher at the National Laboratory of Photonic Networks of the National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications, and was developed at the Institute of Communication Information and Perception Technology of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, where Bogoni is responsible for “Digital & microwave photonics” research at the Radar and Surveillance Systems Laboratory. In particular, Nature valued the team’s “revolutionary approach, with the introduction of photonics technology in radar systems,” and “cutting-edge scientific goal for the performances as a surveillance system and a communication radio system.”
