Radar development within Robin Radar: technological leaps for a new era of detection

During the RF Technology Event 2026 Silvester Heijnen of Robin Radar presents an overview of the company's evolution: from the TNO project ROBIN in 1980 to today's highly specialized radar systems for bird, drone, and security applications.

What began as a research initiative to prevent bird strikes in the air force has grown into an international technology company that excels in detecting the smallest and most difficult-to-distinguish objects in the airspace.

A key turning point in this development was the transition from commercial pulsed radar systems to fully in-house developed 4D radars. These systems combine position and elevation data with Doppler information, which proves crucial for identifying small and fast-moving targets. The Doppler domain allows for the discrimination of motion characteristics such as rotor frequencies or wing beats, enabling precise separation of drones and birds. This proved to be a game-changer for the drone detection market, where the number of complex and rapidly evolving threats is constantly increasing.

Signal processing and AI

In addition to hardware innovation, Robin Radar is investing heavily in advanced signal processing and artificial intelligence. By combining micro-Doppler signatures with deep learning models, targets are classified in real time, even in conditions with high levels of clutter or overlapping objects. The IRIS radar, one of the company's most advanced systems, exemplifies this development: the system can not only generate 360° 3D images but also process micro-Doppler information through a deep neural network, enabling it to accurately distinguish drones, birds, and other objects.

Another impressive example of technological advancement is the Long Range Mode (LRM), a software upgrade that extends the detection range of IRIS from 5 to 12 kilometers. This increases the reaction time to threats such as loitering munitions Significant. The upgrade was made possible in part by intensive feedback from operational deployments, where rapid software iteration proved a crucial success factor. Crucially, all existing IRIS systems can be upgraded without hardware modifications, underscoring the value of a software-driven radar architecture.

Robin Radar is also innovating at the mechanical and embedded levels. Thanks to On-The-Move technology, radars can continue to accurately track vehicles moving at speeds of up to 100 km/h. This requires continuous digital vibration compensation, GPS-based position correction, and adaptive synchronization logic.

These technological developments make Robin Radar a leading player in sectors such as defense, civil aviation, security, and wind energy. The company focuses on providing reliable, real-time aerial imaging in complex environments, with radar systems that integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructures using standards such as ASTERIX and SAPIENT.

Heijnen's presentation clearly demonstrates that modern radar design revolves around the synergy between RF technology, algorithmic intelligence, and smart system architecture. Robin Radar demonstrates that it is precisely the combination of decades of domain knowledge, a strong R&D culture, and continuous innovation that results in radars ready for the most demanding applications of today and tomorrow.

RF Technology event

Visit the RF Technology event at FHI in Leusden on March 4, 2026. Register for free via the website.