Perimeter Security

Round-the-clock monitoring no matter how challenging the conditions

Safeguarding people, places and property is the aim of any kind of perimeter security – but that can be easier said than done in remote locations with difficult terrain or harsh weather conditions.

That’s why each solution is as individual as the site it is designed to protect – taking into account everything from timescales and budget to power and communications requirements.

Compact and precise millimetre-wave (mmWave) radar is particularly suited to round-the-clock perimeter security solutions, either on its own or combined with infrared cameras, for example.

Ultra-fine range and Doppler resolution make it possible to see small moving objects even when much larger objects crowd the scene – and multiple units can be netted together to provide comprehensive coverage of even the most complex sites.


Real-world challenges

The challenge

When a client wanted to monitor access to a remote site in a harsh location, the perimeter security solution had to be able to cope with thick fog, heavy rain and snow – conditions where cameras would fall short.

Long-range detection was required to find objects of interest in a complex scene and classify the behaviour as much as possible.

The Plextek team addressed the requirement by developing a mmWave radar that could detect a potential intruder more than 200 m away – an astonishing range for a radar board that fits in the palm of your hand – with all the nuances of the scene incorporated into a set of algorithms to optimise performance.

Information from a network of radars around the perimeter can be fed back to a central control point for a decision on how to proceed – whether to send out a foot patrol, for example – reducing the manpower necessary to effectively monitor the site.

The solution

The Plextek team addressed the requirement by developing a mmWave radar that could detect a potential intruder more than 200 m away – an astonishing range for a radar board that fits in the palm of your hand – with all the nuances of the scene incorporated into a set of algorithms to optimise performance.

Information from a network of radars around the perimeter can be fed back to a central control point for a decision on how to proceed – whether to send out a foot patrol, for example – reducing the manpower necessary to effectively monitor the site.


Key skills

Infographic displaying how the Staring radar is constantly looking, while a scanning radar is intermittent.
Infographic displaying how the Staring radar is constantly looking, while a scanning radar is intermittent.
  • Expertise with ultra-low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) radars

    Designing and fielding many different radar and communications systems to fit very tight operational constraints.

  • Nuanced understanding of imaging radars

    Designing, building and fielding a number of radars that generate very fine range-velocity-angle images using established, as well as cutting-edge, techniques.

  • Configurable design approach

    Easily able to design customised radar modules for a range of customer needs.


At Plextek, we specialise in great technology at competitive prices. Leveraging our 30 years of radar experience, we can customise the right perimeter security solution for a client’s needs.

John Markow, VP of Innovation
John Markow

VP of Innovation


What sets us apart when it comes to perimeter security?

The Plextek team has extensive experience of using mmWave radar for perimeter security solutions. Our expertise in this field includes:

  • Small covert sensors
  • Sensitive site monitoring
  • Hidden sensors for security
  • Object classification with radars
  • Drone surveillance
  • Electronic security
  • Imaging radars
  • Intrusion detection with radars
  • Long-range detection
  • Motion sensors
  • Perimeter protection
  • Radar and communications systems design
  • Radar detection theory
  • Remote site monitoring
  • Security integration
  • Surveillance technologies
Contact Plextek

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Camera systems are in widespread use as sensors that provide information about the surrounding environment. But this can struggle with image interpretation in complex scenarios. In contrast, mmWave radar technology offers a more straightforward view of the geometry and motion of objects, making it valuable for applications like autonomous vehicles, where radar aids in mapping surroundings and detecting obstacles. Radar’s ability to provide direct 3D location data and motion detection through Doppler effects is advantageous, though traditionally expensive and bulky. Advances in SiGe device integration are producing more compact and cost-effective radar solutions. Plextek aims to develop mm-wave radar prototypes that balance cost, size, weight, power, and real-time data processing for diverse applications, including autonomous vehicles, human-computer interfaces, transport systems, and building security.

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