Radar target identification using the bispectrum: a comparativestudy

Radar target identification is performed using time-domain bispectral features. The classification performance is compared with the performance of other classifiers that use either the impulse response or frequency domain response of the unknown target. The classification algorithms developed here are based on the spectral or the bispectral energy of the received backscatter signal. Classification results are obtained using simulated radar returns derived from measured scattering data from real radar targets. The performance of classifiers in the presence of additive Gaussian (colored or white), exponential noise, and Weibull noise are considered, along with cases where the azimuth position of the target is unknown. Finally, the effect on classification performance of responses horn extraneous point scatterers is investigated     

Classification of radar targets using synthetic neural networks

Radar target classification performance of neural networks is evaluated. Time-domain and frequency-domain target features are considered. The sensitivity of the neural network algorithm to changes in network topology and training noise level is examined. The problem of classifying radar targets at unknown aspect angles is considered. The performance of the neural network algorithms is compared with that of decision-theoretic classifiers. Neural networks can be effectively used as radar target classification algorithms with an expected performance within 10 dB (worst case) of the optimum classifier     

Support vector machines for SAR automatic target recognition

Algorithms that produce classifiers with large margins, such as support vector machines (SVMs), AdaBoost, etc, are receiving more and more attention in the literature. A real application of SVMs for synthetic aperture radar automatic target recognition (SAR/ATR) is presented and the result is compared with conventional classifiers. The SVMs are tested for classification both in closed and open sets (recognition). Experimental results showed that SVMs outperform conventional classifiers in target classification. Moreover, SVMs with the Gaussian kernels are able to form a local “bounded” decision region around each class that presents better rejection to confusers     

Efficient ATR using compression

We examine various model-based automatic target recognition (MBATR) classifiers to investigate the utility of model-catalog compression realized via signal-vector quantization (VQ) and feature extraction. We specifically investigate the impact of various compression rates and common automatic target recognition (ATR) scenario variations such as noise and occlusion through simulations on high-range resolution (HRR) radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. For this data, we show that significant computational savings are possible for modest decreases in classification performance.     

Radar target classification using doppler signatures of human locomotion models

The problem of target classification for ground surveillance Doppler radars is addressed. Two sources of knowledge are presented and incorporated within the classification algorithms: 1) statistical knowledge on radar target echo features, and 2) physical knowledge, represented via the locomotion models for different targets. The statistical knowledge is represented by distribution models whose parameters are estimated using a collected database. The physical knowledge is represented by target locomotion and radar measurements models. Various concepts to incorporate these sources of knowledge are presented. These concepts are tested using real data of radar echo records, which include three target classes: one person, two persons and vehicle. A combined approach, which implements both statistical and physical prior knowledge provides the best classification performance, and it achieves a classification rate of 99% in the three-class problem in high signal-to-noise conditions.     

Ship target recognition using low resolution radar and neuralnetworks

The classification of ship targets using low resolution down-range radar profiles together with preprocessing and neural networks is investigated. An implementation of the Fourier-modified discrete Mellin transform is used as a means for extracting features which are insensitive to the aspect angle of the radar. Kohonen's self-organizing map with learning vector quantization (LVQ) is used for the classification of these feature vectors. The use of a feedforward network trained with the backpropagation algorithm is also investigated. The classification system is applied to both simulated and real data sets. Classification accuracies of up to 90% are reported for the real data, provided target aspect angle information is available to within an error not exceeding 30 deg     

Time-varying autoregressive modeling of HRR radar signatures

A time-varying autoregressive (TVAR) model is used for the modeling and classification of high range resolution (HRR) radar signatures. In this approach, the TVAR coefficients are expanded by a low-order discrete Fourier transform (DFT). A least-squares (LS) estimator of the TVAR model parameters is presented, and the maximum likelihood (ML) approach for determining the model order is also presented. The validity of the TVAR modeling approach is demonstrated by comparing with other approaches in estimating time-varying spectra of synthetic signals. The estimated TVAR model parameters are also used as features in classifying HRR radar signatures with a neural network. In the experiment with two sets of noncooperating target identification (NCTI) data, about 93% of samples are correctly classified     

Tracking with classification-aided multiframe data association

In most conventional tracking systems, only the target kinematic information from, for example, a radar or sonar or an electro-optical sensor, is used in measurement-to-track association. Target class information, which is typically used in postprocessing, can also be used to improve data association to give better tracking accuracy. The use of target class information in data association can improve discrimination by yielding purer tracks and preserving their continuity. In this paper, we present the simultaneous use of target classification information and target kinematic information for target tracking. The approach presented integrates target class information into the data association process using the 2-D (one track list and one measurement list) as well as multiframe (one track list and multiple measurement lists) assignments. The multiframe association likelihood is developed to include the classification results based on the "confusion matrix" that specifies the accuracy of the target classifier. The objective is to improve association results using class information when the kinematic likelihoods are similar for different targets, i.e., there is ambiguity in using kinematic information alone. Performance comparisons with and without the use of class information in data association are presented on a ground target tracking problem. Simulation results quantify the benefits of classification-aided data association for improved target tracking, especially in the presence of association uncertainty in the kinematic measurements. Also, the benefit of 5-D (or multiframe) association versus 2-D association is investigated for different quality classifiers. The main contribution of this paper is the development of the methodology to incorporate exactly the classification information into multidimensional (multiframe) association.     

Performance of 10- and 20-target MSE classifiers

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is responsible for developing the ATR (automatic target recognition) system for the DARPA-sponsored SAIP program; the baseline ATR system recognizes 10 GOB (ground order of battle) targets; the enhanced version of SAIP requires the ATR system to recognize 20 GOB targets. This paper presents ATR performance results for 10- and 20-target mean square error (MSE) classifiers using high-resolution SAR (synthetic aperture radar) imagery.     

Multi-aspect radar target recognition method based on scattering centers and HMMs classifiers

A hidden Markov model (HMM)-based method for recognizing aerial targets according to the sequential high-range-resolution (HRR) radar signature is presented. Its recognition features are the location information of scattering centers extracted from the HRR radar echoes by the relax algorithm. The HMM is used to characterize the spatio-temporal information of a target. Several HMMs are cascaded in a chain to model the variation in the target orientation and used as classifiers. Computer simulations with the inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) data are given to demonstrate that for an open-set recognition, average class-recognition rates of 84.50% and 89.88% are achieved, respectively, under two given conditions.     

Modeling and performance of HF/OTH radar target classificationsystems

The effects of a class of multipath propagation channels on the performance of a over-the-horizon (OTH) radar target classification system are considered. A Rician frequency-selective fading channel model is employed to characterize the effects of the multipath propagation medium and evaluate the performance of radar target classification systems. The performance of classification algorithms that employ relative amplitude, relative phase, and absolute amplitude measurements as features is investigated. Performance estimates of the various classification algorithms for interesting sets of channel parameters are obtained by means of Monte-Carlo simulations     

Adaptive learning approach to landmine detection

We consider landmine detection using forward-looking ground penetrating radar (FLGPR). The two main challenging tasks include extracting intricate structures of target signals and adapting a classifier to the surrounding environment through learning. Through the time-frequency (TF) analysis, we find that the most discriminant information is TF localized. This observation motivates us to use the over-complete wavelet packet transform (WPT) to sparsely represent signals with the discriminant information encoded into several bases. Then the sequential floating forward selection method is used to extract these components and thereby a neural network (NNW) classifier is designed. To further improve the classification performance and deal with the problem of detecting mines in an unconstraint environment, the AdaBoost algorithm is used. We integrate the feature selection process into the original AdaBoost algorithm. In each iteration, AdaBoost identifies the hard-to-learn examples and a new set of features which provide the specific discriminant information for these hard samples is extracted adaptively and a new classifier is trained. Experimental results based on measured data are presented, showing that a significant improvement on the classification performance can be achieved.     

Improved target classification using optimum polarimetric SARsignatures

We present a new method for automatic target/object classification by using the optimum polarimetric radar signatures of the targets/objects of interest. The state-of-the-art in radar target recognition is based mostly either on the use of single polarimetric pairs or on the four preset pairs of orthogonal polarimetric signatures. Due to these limitations, polarimetric radar processing has been fruitful only in the area of noise suppression and target detection. The use of target separability criteria for the optimal selection of radar signal state of polarizations is addressed here. The polarization scattering matrix is used for the derivation of target signatures at arbitrary transmit and receive polarization states (arbitrary polarization inclination angles and ellipticity angles). Then, an optimization criterion that minimizes the within-class distance and maximizes the between-class metrics is used for the derivation of optimum sets of polarimetric states. The results of the application of this approach on real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data of military vehicles are obtained. The results show that noticeable improvements in target separability and consequently target classification can be achieved by the use of the optimum over nonoptimum signatures     

Bayesian gamma mixture model approach to radar target recognition

This paper develops a Bayesian gamma mixture model approach to automatic target recognition (ATR). The specific problem considered is the classification of radar range profiles (RRPs) of military ships. However, the approach developed is relevant to the generic discrimination problem. We model the radar returns (data measurements) from each target as a gamma mixture distribution. Several different motivations for the use of mixture models are put forward, with gamma components being chosen through a physical consideration of radar returns. Bayesian formalism is adopted and we obtain posterior distributions for the parameters of our mixture models. The distributions obtained are too complicated for direct analytical use in a classifier, so Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques are used to provide samples from the distributions. The classification results on the ship data compare favorably with those obtained from two previously published techniques, namely a self-organizing map and a maximum likelihood gamma mixture model classifier.     

KUPS: Knowledge-Based Ubiquitous and Persistent Sensor Networks for Threat Assessment

We propose a knowledge-based ubiquitous and persistent sensor network (KUPS) for threat assessment, in which "sensor" is a broad characterization. It refers to diverse data or information from ubiquitous and persistent sensor sources such as organic sensors and human intelligence sensors. Our KUPS for threat assessment consists of two major steps: situation awareness using fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) and threat parameter estimation using radar sensor networks (RSNs). Our FLSs combine the linguistic knowledge from different intelligent sensors, and our proposed maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation algorithm performs target radar cross section (RCS) parameter estimation. We also show that our ML estimator is unbiased and the variance of parameter estimation matches the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) if the radar pulses follow the Swerling II model. Simulations further validate our theoretical results.     

Low-cost technology for multimode radar

A flexible test bed radar architecture is described which includes an integrated RF electronics package that can support multiple radar applications, including surveillance, fire control, target acquisition, and tracking. This type of architecture can significantly reduce the cost, power, size, and weight of electronics on future weapon delivery platforms. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is developing technology to support multimode radar requirements. These requirements include the detection and location of moving or stationary low radar cross section targets in heavy ground clutter and the classification and/or recognition of these targets. We address these requirements with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products and the integration of several enabling technologies. The test bed radar includes a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) for frequency-diverse waveform generation, a flexible wideband transceiver for bandwidth extension and frequency translation, and an open architecture signal processor with embedded wideband analog-to-digital converters for real-time acquisition and processing. Efficient signal processing algorithms have been developed to demonstrate multimode radar capability. This paper discusses the various subassemblies, algorithm efficiency, and field experiment results     

Radar power multiplier for acquisition of low observables using anESA radar

In this paper the acquisition of a low observable (LO) incoming tactical ballistic missile using the measurements from a surface based electronically scanned array (ESA) radar is presented. We present a batch maximum likelihood (ML) estimator to acquire the missile while it is exo-atmospheric. The proposed estimator, which combines ML estimation with the probabilistic data association (PDA) approach resulting in the ML-PDA algorithm to handle false alarms, also uses target features. The use of features facilitates target acquisition under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. Typically, ESA radars operate at 13-20 dB, whereas the new estimator is shown to be effective even at 4 dB SNR (in a resolution cell, at the end of the signal processing chain) for a Swerling III fluctuating target, which represents a significant counter-stealth capability. That is, this algorithm acts as an effective “power multiplier” for the radar by about an order of magnitude. An approximate Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB), quantifying the attainable estimation accuracies and shown to be met by the proposed estimator, is derived as well     

Comparison of Two Target Classification Techniques

It has been shown that radar returns in the resonance region carry information regarding the overall dimensions and shape of targets. Two radar target classification techniques developed to utilize such returns are discussed. Both of these techniques utilize resonance region backscatter measurements of the radar cross section (RCS) and the intrinsic target backscattered phase. A target catalog used for testing the techniques was generated from measurements of the RCS of scale models of modern aircraft and naval ships using a radar range at The Ohio State University. To test the classification technique, targets had their RCS and phase taken from the data base and corrupted by errors to simulate full-scale propagation path and processing distortion. Several classification methods were then used to determine how well the corrupted measurements fit the measurement target signatures in the catalog. The first technique uses nearest neighbor (NN) algorithms on the RCS magnitude and (range corrected) phase at a number (e.g., 2, 4, or 8) of operating frequencies. The second technique uses an inverse Fourier transformation of the complex multifrequency radar returns to the time domain followed by cross correlation. Comparisons are made of the performance of the two techniques as a function of signal-to-error noise power ratio for various processing options.     

An online ensemble semi-supervised classification framework for air combat target maneuver recognition

Online target maneuver recognition is an important prerequisite for air combat situation recognition and maneuver decision-making. Conventional target maneuver recognition methods adopt mainly supervised learning methods and assume that many sample labels are available. However, in real-world applications, manual sample labeling is often time-consuming and laborious. In addition, airborne sensors collecting target maneuver trajectory information in data streams often cannot process information in real time. To solve these problems, in this paper, an air combat target maneuver recognition model based on an online ensemble semi-supervised classification framework based on online learning, ensemble learning, semi-supervised learning, and Tri-training algorithm, abbreviated as Online Ensemble Semi-supervised Classification Framework (OESCF), is proposed. The framework is divided into four parts: basic classifier offline training stage, online recognition model initialization stage, target maneuver online recognition stage, and online model update stage. Firstly, based on the improved Tri-training algorithm and the fusion decision filtering strategy combined with disagreement, basic classifiers are trained offline by making full use of labeled and unlabeled sample data. Secondly, the dynamic density clustering algorithm of the target maneuver is performed, statistical information of each cluster is calculated, and a set of micro-clusters is obtained to initialize the online recognition model. Thirdly, the ensemble K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN)-based learning method is used to recognize the incoming target maneuver trajectory instances. Finally, to further improve the accuracy and adaptability of the model under the condition of high dynamic air combat, the parameters of the model are updated online using error-driven representation learning, exponential decay function and basic classifier obtained in the offline training stage. The experimental results on several University of California Irvine (UCI) datasets and real air combat target maneuver trajectory data validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in comparison with other semi-supervised models and supervised models, and the results show that the proposed model achieves higher classification accuracy.     

Maximum likelihood identification of glint noise

If the non-Gaussian distribution function of radar glint noise is known, the Masreliez filter can be applied to improve target tracking performance. We investigate the glint identification problem using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. Two models for the glint distribution are used, a mixture of two Gaussian distributions and a mixture of a Gaussian and a Laplacian distribution. An efficient initial estimate method based on the QQ-plot is also proposed. Simulations show that the ML estimates converge to truths