Clutter rejection for MTI radar using a single antenna and a long integration time

Moving Target Indicators (MTI) are airborne radar systems designed to detect and track moving vehicles or aircrafts. In this paper, we address the problem of detecting hazardous collision targets to avoid them. One of the best known solutions to solve this problem is given by the so-called Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) algorithms which optimally filter the target signal from interference and noise exploiting the specific relationship between Direction Of Arrival (DOA) and Doppler for the ground clutter. However, these algorithms require an antenna array and multiple reception channels that increase cost and complexity. The authors propose an alternative solution using a single antenna only. In addition to the standard Doppler shift related to the radial speed, the orthoradial speed of any target can be estimated if using a long integration time. Dangerous targets and ground clutter have different signatures in the radial-orthoradial velocity plane. An optimal detector is then proposed based on the oblique projection onto the signal subspace orthogonal to the clutter subspace. The theoretical performances of this detector are derived and a realistic radar scene simulation shows the benefits of this new MTI detector

Radar: Theory and Insight

Radar principles and design considerations are reviewed, using both analytical and heuristic methods. Emphasis is placed on achieving physical insight while maintaining technical rigor. Waveform properties and signal detectability maximization through matched filtering is discussed in detail. The Moving Target Indicator radar system is presented as an illustration of digital signal processing technology applied to modern radar systems

Radar Signal Processing for Interference Mitigation

It is necessary for radars to suppress interferences to near the noise level to achieve the best performance in target detection and measurements. In this dissertation work, innovative signal processing approaches are proposed to effectively mitigate two of the most common types of interferences: jammers and clutter. Two types of radar systems are considered for developing new signal processing algorithms: phased-array radar and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar. For phased-array radar, an innovative target-clutter feature-based recognition approach termed as Beam-Doppler Image Feature Recognition (BDIFR) is proposed to detect moving targets in inhomogeneous clutter. Moreover, a new ground moving target detection algorithm is proposed for airborne radar. The essence of this algorithm is to compensate for the ground clutter Doppler shift caused by the moving platform and then to cancel the Doppler-compensated clutter using MTI filters that are commonly used in ground-based radar systems. Without the need of clutter estimation, the new algorithms outperform the conventional Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) algorithm in ground moving target detection in inhomogeneous clutter. For MIMO radar, a time-efficient reduced-dimensional clutter suppression algorithm termed as Reduced-dimension Space-time Adaptive Processing (RSTAP) is proposed to minimize the number of the training samples required for clutter estimation. To deal with highly heterogeneous clutter more effectively, we also proposed a robust deterministic STAP algorithm operating on snapshot-to-snapshot basis. For cancelling jammers in the radar mainlobe direction, an innovative jamming elimination approach is proposed based on coherent MIMO radar adaptive beamforming. When combined with mutual information (MI) based cognitive radar transmit waveform design, this new approach can be used to enable spectrum sharing effectively between radar and wireless communication systems. The proposed interference mitigation approaches are validated by carrying out simulations for typical radar operation scenarios. The advantages of the proposed interference mitigation methods over the existing signal processing techniques are demonstrated both analytically and empirically

Photonic based Radar: Characterization of 1x4 Mach-Zehnder Demultiplexer

This work is based on a research activity which aims to implement an optical transceiver for a photonic-assisted fully–digital radar system based on optic miniaturized optical devices both for the optical generation of the radiofrequency (RF) signal and for the optical sampling of the received RF signal. The work is more focused on one very critical block of receiver which is used to parallelize optical samples. Parallelization will result in samples which will be lower in repetition rate so that we can use commercial available ADCs for further processing. This block needs a custom design to meet all the system specifications. In order to parallelize the samples a 1x4 switching matrix (demux) based on Mach Zehnder (MZ) interferometer has been proposed. The demux technique is Optical Time Division Demultiplexing. In order to operate this demux according to the requirements the characterization of device is needed. We need to find different stable control points (coupler bias and MZ bias) of demux to get output samples with high extinction ratio. A series of experiments have been performed to evaluate the matrix performance, issues and sensitivity. The evaluated results along with the whole scheme has been discussed in this document

Investigation of target detection in noncoherent systems with colored noise

Design efforts concerning the problem of detecting moving ground targets from an airborne platform with a noncoherent radar have been concentrated in the area of video filter design. The filter formulation generally follows an empirical path with no generally acceptable criterion for an optimum processor. This Thesis considers several problem formulations which are based on a Neyman-Pearson detection criteria. A square-law second detector is assumed and the resulting likelihood ratio shown to be too complex for closed form solution. The problem is reformulated in terms of sequences using complex random variable representations and the likelihood ratio is investigated. A test statistic is derived and discussed in terms of a practical implementation. A suboptimum receiver is implemented in the video frequency region and compared with existing MTI processors by using computer simulation programs. A clutter rejection video filter shaped in accordance with the optimum receiver derivation is shown to have some advantage over conventional shaping with which it is compared --Abstract, page ii

An investigation of a frequency diverse array

This thesis presents a novel concept for focusing an antenna beam pattern as a function of range, time, and angle. In conventional phased arrays, beam steering is achieved by applying a linear phase progression across the aperture. This thesis shows that by applying an additional linear frequency shift across the elements, a new term is generated which results in a scan angle that varies with range in the far-field. Moreover, the antenna pattern is shown to scan in range and angle as a function of time. These properties result in more flexible beam scan options for phased array antennas than traditional phase shifter implementations. The thesis subsequently goes on to investigate this phenomenon via full scale experimentation, and explores a number of aspects of applying frequency diversity spatially across array antennas. This new form of frequency diverse array may have applications to multipath mitigation, where a radio signal takes two or more routes between the transmitter and receiver due to scattering from natural and man-made objects. Since the interfering signals arrive from more than one direction, the range-dependent and auto-scanning properties of the frequency diverse array beam may be useful to isolate and suppress the interference. The frequency diverse array may also have applications to wideband array steering, in lieu of true time delay solutions which are often used to compensate for linear phase progression with frequency across an array, and to sonar, where the speed of propagation results in large percentage bandwidth, creating similar wideband array effects. The frequency diverse array is also a stepping stone to more sophisticated joint antenna and waveform design for the creation of new radar modes, such as simultaneous multi-mode operation, for example, enabling joint synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication

Performance evaluation of a radar by computer

This thesis examines the radar range performance of Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR-9) in thermal noise, as well as in presence of clutter and jamming. Radar software available from Artech House was used for the performance evaluation. Comparison of detection range in the software is based on empirical calculation of detectability factor in contrast to Marcum-Swerling method which is based on standard radar detection theory. ASR-9 was chosen because it has no military significance and data on it is easily available.http://archive.org/details/performanceevalu00thonLieutenant, Royal Thai NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Design Characteristics of Coherent Radar for Snorkel Detection

Control Systems Laboratory changed its name to Coordinated Science LaboratoryContract DA-11-022-ORD-721, TB. 3-053

Introduction to the microcomputers for solving radar and electronic warfare problems.

http://archive.org/details/introductiontomi00vergNAN