Keith Klein M.Sc. winner of annual Prof. Kooy graduation prize
The winner of the annual Kooy Prize was announced on 3 June 2021. The chairman of the Defence and Security Department of the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) Jan Wind, together with the chairman of the Kooy Prize jury Bart Koene, presented the prize of 2,000 euros to Ir. Keith T.J. Klein. He won the prize with his thesis: 'Estimating 3D motion from radar data: Exploiting an omnidirectional radar array for motion estimation in the context of SAR imaging on agile platform'.
Keith has been working on 3D speed estimation of unmanned aircraft using radar data. Obtaining accurate position estimation is a challenging problem in coherent radar processing techniques such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This is even more true for light and agile platforms such as multi-copters/drones. Their difficult to predict movements must be accurately determined during data collection and compensated for during processing.
The drone-mounted radar system--which Keith has been researching--was developed by TNO for the Expeditionary Manoeuvre Warfare Department of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). The system is important for reconnaissance missions and thus eminently relevant for Defence!
The jury consisted of Dr L. Koene (jury chairman and KIVI DV board member), Ing. L.F. Galle (Defence Materiel Organisation), Prof.dr.ir. P.H.A.J.M. van Gelder (TU Delft), Prof. Dr B.R.H.M. Haverkort (Tilburg University), Prof. Dr F.E. van Vliet (TNO, University of Twente) and Prof. Dr P.J. Oonincx (Netherlands Defence Academy).
The award ceremony can be viewed via this link.
