Multiple moving target feature extraction for airborne HRR radar

This study considers the clutter suppression and feature extraction of multiple moving targets for airborne high range resolution (HRR) phased array radar. To avoid the range migration problems that occur in the HRR radar data, we divide each HRR profile into nonoverlapping low range resolution segments. No information is lost due to the division and hence no loss of resolution occurs. We show how to use a vector auto-regressive filtering technique to suppress the clutter. Then a relaxation-based parameter estimation algorithm is presented for multiple moving target feature extraction. Numerical results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm     

Moving target detection via airborne HRR phased array radar

We study moving target detection in the presence of temporally and spatially correlated ground clutter for airborne high range resolution (HRR) phased array radar. We divide the HRR range profiles into large range segments to avoid the range migration problems that occur in the HRR radar data. Since each range segment contains a sequence of HRR range bins, no information is lost due to the division and hence no loss of resolution occurs. We show how to use a vector autoregressive (VAR) filtering technique to suppress the ground clutter. Then a moving target detector based on a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detection strategy is derived. The detection threshold is determined according to the desired false alarm rate, which is made possible via an asymptotic statistical analysis. After the target Doppler frequency and spatial signature vectors are estimated from the VAR-filtered data as if a target were present, a simple detection variable is computed and compared with the detection threshold to render a decision on the presence of a target. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed moving target detection algorithm     

Automatic target recognition of time critical moving targets using1D high range resolution (HRR) radar

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) of moving targets pose a significant challenge due to the inherent difficulty of focusing moving targets. As a result, ATR of moving targets has recently received increased interest. High Range Resolution (HRR) radar mode offers an approach for recognizing moving targets by forming focused HRR profiles with significantly enhanced target-to-(clutter+noise) (T/(C+N)) via Doppler filtering and/or clutter cancellation. A goal of HRR ATR transition is the implementation and evaluation of algorithms exhibiting robustness under extended operating conditions (EOC). The public domain Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) data set was used to study 1D template-based ATR development and performance. Due to the unavailability of a statistically significant moving ground target data set, this approach was taken as an interim step in assessing the separability of ground targets when using range only discriminants. This report summarizes the data and algorithm methodology, simulated performance results, and recommendations     

HRR Detector for Slow-Moving Targets in Sea Clutter

The radar detection of targets in the presence of sea clutter has historically relied upon the radial velocity of targets with respect to the radar platform either by exploiting the relative target Dopplers (for targets with sufficient radial velocity) or by discerning the paths targets traverse from scan to scan. For targets with little to no radial velocity component, though, it can become quite difficult to differentiate targets from the surrounding sea clutter. This paper addresses the detection of slow-moving targets in sea clutter using a high resolution radar (HRR) such that the target has perceptible extent in range. Under the assumption of completely random sea clutter spikes based on an epsiv-contaminated mixture model with the signal and clutter powers known, optimal detection performance results from using the likelihood ratio test (LRT). However, for realistic sea clutter, the clutter spikes tend to be a localized phenomenon. Based upon observations from real radar data measurements, a heuristic approach exploiting a salient aspect of the idealized LRT is developed which is shown to perform well when applied to real measured sea clutter.     

High Range Resolution Profiles as Motion-Invariant Features for Moving Ground Targets Identification in SAR-Based Automatic Target Recognition

A quantitative model analysis is presented to justify the extraction of high range resolution (HRR) profiles from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images as motion-invariant features for identifying moving ground targets. A comparative study is conducted to assess the effectiveness in the identification process between using HRR profiles and SAR images as target signatures. The results indicate that HRR profiles are just as viable as SAR image for identification. Furthermore, a score-level multi-look fusion identification method has been investigated. It is found that a correct accurate identification rate of greater than 99 percent, a low false alarm rate, and a high level of identification confidence can be achieved, providing very robust performance.     

Ambiguity resolution of multiple targets using pulse-Dopplerwaveforms

To cancel clutter, both medium-PRF waveforms which are ambiguous in both range and Doppler and high-PRF waveforms which are ambiguous in range but unambiguous in ambiguities, a previous paper has shown that superior results for a single target can be achieved by using a clustering algorithm. Here, the problem of multiple targets is considered. A maximum likelihood (ML) technique which incorporates the clustering algorithm is developed for the multiple target problem. Simulation results show that four targets which have the same speed but are at different ranges can be resolved by using a medium-PRF waveform and employing the ML resolution technique     

Neural solution to the multitarget tracking data associationproblem

The problem of tracking multiple targets in the presence of clutter is addressed. The joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) algorithm has been previously reported to be suitable for this problem in that it makes few assumptions and can handle many targets as long as the clutter density is not very high. However, the complexity of this algorithm increases rapidly with the number of targets and returns. An approximation of the JPDA that uses an analog computational network to solve the data association problem is suggested. The problem is viewed as that of optimizing a suitably chosen energy function. Simple neural-network structures for the approximate minimization of such functions have been proposed by other researchers. The analog network used offers a significant degree of parallelism and thus can compute the association probabilities more rapidly. Computer simulations indicate the ability of the algorithm to track many targets simultaneously in the presence of moderately dense clutter     

基于杂波对消-自聚焦的多通道SAR-GMTI

对超高频(UHF)波段多通道合成孔径雷达(SAR)动目标检测技术进行研究,解决了长相干积累时间导致动目标在方位向散焦严重的问题。采用分块自聚焦技术对多通道SAR地面移动目标指示(GMTI)系统自适应杂波抑制后的SAR图像进行处理,改善杂波抑制后的SAR图像中动目标的聚焦情况,增强动目标与周围剩余杂波的对比度,进而提高恒虚警率(CFAR)检测的性能。与传统杂波抑制后直接进行CFAR检测方法相比较,该方法降低了检测虚警概率。实测数据处理结果显示动目标的信杂比明显提高,动目标方位向聚焦成功,证明了该方法的有效性。     

Sum-difference Reduced-dimensional Processing in SAR Image Domain and Statistical Analysis for Ground Moving Target Indication

In this article, a new reduced-dimensional adaptive processing algorithm based on joint pixels sum-difference data for clutter rejection is proposed. The sum-difference data are obtained by orthogonal projection of the joint pixels data of different synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images generated by a multi-satellite radar system. In the sense of statistical expectation, the sum-differ- ence data contain the common and different information of the SAR images. Therefore, the objective of clutter cancellation can be achieved by adaptive processing. Moreover, based on the residual image after clutter rejection, statistical analysis of constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) detection of moving targets is also presented. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm even with heterogeneous clutter and image co-registration error.     

修正的概率数据互联算法

阐明了概率数据互联(PDA)算法能很好地解决密集环境下的目标跟踪问题,在该算法基础上,人们又提出了联合概率数据互联(JPDA)算法和一些基于 PDA 的修正算法。在概率数据互联算法中,有一个很重要的参数就是杂波数密度(或波门内虚假量测期望数)。然而在许多实际情况中,这个参数是很难获取的。针对这一问题,文中提出了一种修正的概率数据互联算法,该算法通过实时地调整这一参数来获得对目标较为准确的估计结果。最后,给出了算法的仿真分析。     

Superresolution HRR ATR with high definition vector imaging

A new 1-D template-based automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm is developed and tested on high range resolution (HRR) profiles formed from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of targets taken from the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) data set. In this work, a superresolution technique known as High Definition Vector Imaging (HDVI) is applied to the HRR profiles before the profiles are passed through ATR classification. The new I-D ATR system using HDVI demonstrates significantly improved target recognition compared with previous I-D ATR systems that use conventional image processing techniques. This improvement in target recognition is quantified by improvement in probability of correct classification (PCC). More importantly, the application of HDVI to HRR profiles helps to maintain the same ATR performance with reduced radar resource requirements     

扫描模式航管监视雷达风电场杂波检测与抑制

近年来,全球风力发电装机容量呈指数增长。研究表明,风轮机对其附近的航管(ATC)监视雷达会产生严重影响。风轮机杂波的有效检测及抑制,对于保证空中交通安全具有重要意义。首先提出了基于回波谱宽特征的航管监视雷达的风轮机杂波检测方法。针对扫描模式下航管监视雷达频谱分辨率较低的问题,将基于自回归(AR)模型的超分辨率方法和质量中心的概念应用于雷达回波的快速谱宽和谱中心估计算法中,提高谱宽估计的精度。其次针对扫描模式下的风轮机回波数据不是一个完整周期数据的问题,基于缺省数据幅度和相位估计(GAPES)算法实现了扫描模式下风轮机雷达回波缺省数据的估计,而后利用风轮机杂波的周期性抑制风轮机杂波。该算法实现了风轮机杂波的有效检测和抑制,并且其不受限于风轮机与飞机目标在同一个距离单元的情况。仿真结果验证了所提方法的有效性。     

密集杂波环境下的数据关联快速算法

基于联合概率数据互联（JPDA）的思想,提出了一种新的数据关联快速算法（Fast Al-gorithm for Data Association,简称FAFDA算法）.该方法不需象在最优JPDA算法中那样生成所有可能的联合互联假设,因而具有计算量小,易于工程实现的特点。仿真结果表明,与最优JPDA算法相比,FAFDA算法的跟踪性能令人满意,并且在密集杂波环境下可实时、有效地跟踪100批次以上的目标。     

Clutter Suppression by Complex Weighting of Coherent Pulse Trains

Uniform coherent pulse trains offer a practical solution to the problem of designing a radar signal possessing both high range and range-rate resolution. The Doppler sensitivity provides some rejection of off-Doppler (clutter) returns in the matched filter receiver. This paper considers the use of a processor in which members of the received pulse train are selectively weighted in amplitude and phase to improve clutter suppression. The techniques described are particularly suitable for rejecting interference entering the processor through ambiguous responses (range sidelobes) of the signal. The complex weights which are derived are optimum in the sense that they produce the maximum clutter suppression for a given detection efficiency. In determining these weights, it is assumed that the distribution of clutter in range and range rate relative to targets of interest is known. Thus, clutter suppression is achieved by reducing the sidelobe levels in specified regions of the receiver response. These techniques are directly applicable to array antennas; the analogous antenna problem would be to reduce sidelobe levels in a particular sector while preserving gain. Complex weighting is most successful when the clutter is limited in both range and velocity.     

Spatial-temporal detection of electro-optic moving targets

A maximum likelihood algorithm to detect moving targets in space-time electro-optic data is derived using a model of temporally stationary and spatially nonstationary clutter statistics. Performance is evaluated in term of the probabilities of false alarm and detection. This algorithm is applied to a variety of image sequences: visible band and infrared (IR) sensors, with terrestrial and celestial clutter backgrounds. Comparison of theoretically predicted and experimentally derived statistics shows excellent agreement, validating the model and theoretical predictions     

A localized adaptive MTD processor

The problem of achieving the optimum moving target indicator (MTI) detection performance in strong clutter of unknown spectrum when the set of data available to the estimation of clutter statistics is small due to a severely nonhomogeneous environment is studied. A new adaptive implementation, called the Doppler domain localized generalized likelihood ratio processor (DDL-GLR), is proposed, and its detection performance is studied in detail. It is shown that the DDL-GLR is a data-efficient implementation of the high-order optimum detector and has several advantages of practical importance over the adaptive processors     

Clutter Performance of Coherent Pulse Trains for Targets with Range Acceleration

The clutter performance of coherent pulse trains is examined when the duration of the pulse train is increased to values for which range acceleration effects must be taken into account. The problem of target detection against a clutter background with differential Doppler is studied in terms of the range acceleration effects on the conventional Doppler response. Specifically considered are the consequences on the sidelobe level and width of the main Doppler lobe. The analysis shows that the sidelobe level remains essentially unchanged when the range acceleration mismatch becomes significant. However, the main Doppler response broadens in proportion to the magnitude of the acceleration mismatch. Thus, an increase of the signal duration for better Doppler resolution is useful only until acceleration effects spread the Doppler spectrum of the clutter and eliminate the differential Doppler between targets and clutter.     

A Velocity Estimation Algorithm of Moving Targets using Single Antenna SAR

A new algorithm is proposed for velocity estimation of moving targets in single antenna synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Based on the fact that different velocity vectors cause different geometrical figures of the two-dimensional (2-D) signature in the range-Doppler (RD) domain, this algorithm estimates the azimuth and range velocities by a 2-D search such that the range cell migration correction (RCMC) and the second range compression (SRC) are correctly performed. It is shown that, using the proposed algorithm, the Doppler ambiguity problem can be avoided and satisfactory accurate velocity estimation can be obtained in high signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) scenarios.     

基于点集合并的修正Hough变换TBD算法

在低信噪比条件下,基于Hough变换的检测前跟踪算法是进行强杂波背景下目标航迹检测的一种手段。本文针对Hough变换后一个目标产生多条可能航迹以及航迹内可能存在杂波点的问题,提出了一种基于能量最大点和点集合并的修正Hough变换检测前跟踪算法。该算法利用量测点时序、能量信息及目标速度先验信息对Hough变换后点迹进行关联和剔除,能够有效的对目标原始航迹进行回溯。针对高斯噪声背景下的飞行目标,仿真结果表明该算法能够对微弱目标进行有效检测,在目标数目、杂波密度、信噪比发生变化的条件下仍能保持较高的检测概率。     

Adaptive Radar Detection in Doubly Nonstationary Autoregressive Doppler Spread Clutter

The problem of adaptive radar detection in clutter which is nonstationary both in slow and fast time is addressed. Nonstationarity within a coherent processing interval (CPI) often precludes target detection because of the masking induced by Doppler spreading of the clutter. Across range bins (i.e., fast time), nonstationarity severely limits the amount of training data available to estimate the noise covariance matrix required for adaptive detection. Such difficult clutter conditions are not uncommon in complex multipath propagation conditions where path lengths can change abruptly in dynamic scenarios. To mitigate nonstationary Doppler spread clutter, an approximation to the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detector is presented wherein the CPI from the hypothesized target range is used for both clutter estimation and target detection. To overcome the lack of training data, a modified time-varying autoregressive (TVAR) model is assumed for the clutter return. In particular, maximum likelihood (ML) estimates of the TVAR parameters, computed from a single snapshot of data, are used in a GLRT for detecting stationary targets in possibly abruptly nonstationary clutter. The GLRT is compared with three alternative methods including a conceptually simpler ad hoc approach based on extrapolation of quasi-stationary data segments. Detection performance is assessed using simulated targets in both synthetically-generated and real radar clutter. Results suggest the proposed GLRT with TVAR clutter modeling can provide between 5–8 dB improvement in signal-to-clutter plus noise ratio (SCNR) when compared with the conventional methods.