An open-source DIY radar system designed by Moroccan engineer Nawfal Motii is democratizing access to phased array technology that previously cost researchers and hobbyists over $250,000 to acquire. The Aeris-10, now available on GitHub under open-source licenses, delivers 90-95% cost savings compared to commercial entry-level systems while maintaining genuine electronic beam steering and multi-target tracking capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- Aeris-10 operates at 10.5 GHz with up to 20km range using Pulse Linear Frequency Modulated (LFM) modulation
- Two versions available: 3km range (Nexus) and 20km range (Extended) with different antenna arrays
- Full hardware schematics, PCB layouts, FPGA code, and firmware released under CERN-OHL-P and MIT licenses
- Features electronic beam steering in azimuth, stepper motor elevation control, and multi-target Doppler tracking
- Targets researchers, drone developers, and SDR enthusiasts locked out of $250,000+ commercial radar systems
What Makes This Open-Source DIY Radar System Different
The open-source DIY radar system breaks a longstanding barrier in phased array technology. Commercial radar systems have historically been locked behind six-figure price tags, leaving researchers and independent innovators without affordable options for electronic beam steering experimentation. Motii’s Aeris-10 changes this equation by combining modern software-defined radio (SDR) principles with custom FPGA and microcontroller design, delivering institutional-grade capabilities at a fraction of traditional costs.
The system operates at 10.5 GHz using Pulse Linear Frequency Modulated (LFM) modulation, a standard technique in professional radar but rarely accessible outside corporate labs. Two distinct configurations address different use cases: the Aeris-10N (Nexus) variant reaches 3 kilometers using an 8×16 patch antenna array, while the Aeris-10X or Aeris-10E (Extended) achieves 20 kilometers with a 32×16 dielectric-filled slotted waveguide array. This range flexibility lets hobbyists and researchers scale their projects without redesigning core components.
Hardware Architecture and Electronic Beam Steering
The Aeris-10 relies on an AMD Artix-7 FPGA as its computational backbone, paired with an STM32 microcontroller managing system logic and sensor integration. Electronic beam steering in azimuth uses 16 antenna elements, while elevation control employs a stepper motor—designed to transition to full electronic steering in future iterations. Real-time pitch and roll correction comes from a GY-85 IMU, preventing environmental tilt from skewing radar images, while a BMP180 barometer and eight ADS7830 temperature sensors enable adaptive cooling fan control during extended operation.
Signal generation and reception chain the system through custom RF architecture: a DAC generates the LFM chirp waveform, two LT5552 microwave mixers handle up-conversion for transmission and intermediate-frequency down-conversion for reception, and RF switches route signals between transmit and receive paths. The mechanical design incorporates slip-rings and stepper motor drivers to support the rotating antenna array, with all mechanical drawings available in the GitHub repository for users building or modifying their own systems.
Open-Source Release and Community Access
Every component of the Aeris-10 is freely available on GitHub under permissive licensing. EAGLE schematics, PCB layout files, bills of materials, and Gerber files for manufacturing are released under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 (CERN-OHL-P), enabling anyone to manufacture boards or modify designs. The FPGA code (written in VHDL and Verilog), STM32 firmware, and Python graphical user interface are released under the MIT license, allowing commercial and research use without restrictions.
The Python GUI provides real-time target plotting with map integration and complete radar control interfaces, letting users visualize multi-target tracking data and adjust system parameters on the fly. This accessibility contrasts sharply with commercial systems, which typically lock users into proprietary software and force expensive service contracts for any customization or repair. Researchers and drone developers gain the ability to experiment with phased array concepts, test novel signal processing algorithms, and adapt the radar for specialized applications—all without licensing negotiations or vendor dependencies.
Comparing Open-Source DIY Radar System to Commercial Alternatives
Commercial phased array radars occupy a stark market position: entry-level systems cost upward of $250,000 and provide minimal programmability for researchers or educators. These systems are engineered for specific applications—weather monitoring, air traffic control, or military surveillance—and resist adaptation to novel research questions. An academic group wanting to experiment with phased array concepts or a drone startup exploring collision avoidance radar faces a choice: spend a quarter-million dollars or abandon the project.
The Aeris-10 inverts this equation. While the exact DIY build cost remains unspecified in available documentation, the claimed 90-95% savings versus commercial offerings puts a fully functional phased array radar within reach of university labs, hobbyist maker spaces, and small companies. The trade-off is assembly complexity—users must solder components, program FPGAs, and integrate mechanical systems—but the result is a system they own completely, can modify freely, and can adapt to their specific research or application needs.
Intended Audience and Use Cases
Motii designed the Aeris-10 explicitly for researchers, drone developers, and software-defined radio (SDR) enthusiasts who have been priced out of phased array experimentation. University robotics teams can now explore autonomous vehicle perception using real phased array radar instead of simulation-only projects. Drone manufacturers can prototype collision avoidance systems without committing millions to commercial radar licenses. Amateur radio experimenters can study Doppler effects and electronic beam steering with hands-on hardware rather than textbooks alone.
The multi-target tracking capability—outputting both range and Doppler velocity for multiple objects simultaneously—opens applications in weather research, bird migration studies, and autonomous systems development. Researchers studying phased array signal processing no longer need to reverse-engineer proprietary black boxes; they have complete visibility into hardware design, firmware logic, and signal chain implementation.
Is the Aeris-10 ready to build right now?
All design files, schematics, and code are available on GitHub as of March 2026. However, a complete assembly guide and bill of materials total cost have not yet been published. Users with FPGA and PCB manufacturing experience can begin sourcing components and fabricating boards immediately; others may need to wait for step-by-step documentation.
How does the Aeris-10’s 20km range compare to smaller hobby radar projects?
The 20-kilometer range of the Aeris-10 Extended variant significantly exceeds typical amateur radar projects, which often operate in the 1-5km range. This extended reach comes from the larger 32×16 antenna array and higher transmit power, enabling applications like weather monitoring and drone tracking that smaller systems cannot support.
Can I modify the Aeris-10 for my specific research application?
Yes. The CERN-OHL-P and MIT licenses explicitly permit modifications and derivative works. Users can adapt the FPGA code for custom signal processing, redesign antenna arrays for different frequencies, or integrate the radar into larger autonomous systems—all without vendor approval or licensing fees.
The Aeris-10 represents a watershed moment for phased array radar accessibility. By releasing a fully functional, electronically steerable system under open-source licenses, Motii has shattered the gatekeeping that confined this technology to well-funded institutions and defense contractors. Researchers, students, and innovators now have a legitimate path to hands-on phased array experimentation—one that costs a fraction of what commercial vendors demand and offers complete creative freedom in the bargain.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Tom's Hardware
