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     

Passive ranging of a low observable ballistic missile in agravitational field

In this paper we present an estimation algorithm for tracking the motion of a low-observable target in a gravitational field, for example, an incoming ballistic missile (BM), using angle-only measurements. The measurements, which are obtained from a single stationary sensor, are available only for a short time. Also, the low target detection probability and high false alarm density present a difficult low-observable environment. The algorithm uses the probabilistic data association (PDA) algorithm in conjunction with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation to handle the false alarms and the less-than-unity target detection probability. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) in clutter, which quantifies the best achievable estimator accuracy for this problem in the presence of false alarms and nonunity detection probability, is also presented. The proposed estimator is shown to be efficient, that is, it meets the CRLB, even for low-observable fluctuating targets with 6 dB average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For a BM in free flight with 0.6 single-scan detection probability, one can achieve a track detection probability of 0.99 with a negligible probability of false track acceptance     

Maximum likelihood track-before-detect with fluctuating targetamplitude

An important problem in target tracking is the detection and tracking of targets in very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments. In the past, several approaches have been used, including maximum likelihood. The major novelty of this work is the incorporation of a model for fluctuating target amplitude into the maximum likelihood approach for tracking of constant velocity targets. Coupled with a realistic sensor model, this allows the exploitation of signal correlation between resolution cells in the same frame, and also from one frame to the next. The fluctuating amplitude model is a first order model to reflect the inter-frame correlation. The amplitude estimates are obtained using a Kalman filter, from which the likelihood function is derived. A numerical maximization technique avoids problems previously encountered in “velocity filtering” approaches due to mismatch between assumed and actual target velocity, at the cost of additional computation. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is derived for a constant, known amplitude case. Estimation errors are close to this CRLB even when the amplitude is unknown. Results show track detection performance for unknown signal amplitude is nearly the same as that obtained when the correct signal model is used     

Bearings-only tracking of maneuvering targets using abatch-recursive estimator

We present a new batch-recursive estimator for tracking maneuvering targets from bearings-only measurements in clutter (i.e., for low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) targets), Standard recursive estimators like the extended Kalman Iter (EKF) suffer from poor convergence and erratic behavior due to the lack of initial target range information, On the other hand, batch estimators cannot handle target maneuvers. In order to rectify these shortcomings, we combine the batch maximum likelihood-probabilistic data association (ML-PDA) estimator with the recursive interacting multiple model (IMM) estimator with probabilistic data association (PDA) to result in better track initialization as well as track maintenance results in the presence of clutter. It is also demonstrated how the batch-recursive estimator can be used for adaptive decisions for ownship maneuvers based on the target state estimation to enhance the target observability. The tracking algorithm is shown to be effective for targets with 8 dB SNR     

EM-ML algorithm for track initialization using possibly noninformative data

Initializing and maintaining a track for a low observable (LO) (low SNR, low target detection probability and high false alarm rate) target can be very challenging because of the low information content of measurements. In addition, in some scenarios, target-originated measurements might not be present in many consecutive scans because of mispointing, target maneuvers, or erroneous preprocessing. That is, one might have a set of noninformative scans that could result in poor track initialization and maintenance. In this paper an algorithm based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm combined with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is presented for tracking slowly maneuvering targets in heavy clutter and possibly noninformative scans. The adaptive sliding-window EM-ML approach, which operates in batch mode, tries to reject or weight down noninformative scans using the Q-function in the M-step of the EM algorithm. It is shown that target features in the form of, for example, amplitude information (AI), can also be used to improve the estimates. In addition, performance bounds based on the supplemented EM (SEM) technique are also presented. The effectiveness of new algorithm is first demonstrated on a 78-frame long wave infrared (LWIR) data sequence consisting of an Fl Mirage fighter jet in heavy clutter. Previously, this scenario has been used as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of other track initialization algorithms. The new EM-ML estimator confirms the track by frame 20 while the ML-PDA (maximum likelihood estimator combined with probabilistic data association) algorithm, the IMM-MHT (interacting multiple model estimator combined with multiple hypothesis tracking) and the EVIM-PDA estimator previously required 28, 38, and 39 frames, respectively. The benefits of the new algorithm in terms of accuracy, early detection, and computational load are illustrated using simulated scenarios as well.     

利用重要性采样的时差-频差联合估计算法

针对无源定位中参考信号真实值未知的时差(TDOA)-频差(FDOA)联合估计问题,构建了一种新的时差-频差最大似然(ML)估计模型,并采用重要性采样(IS)方法求解似然函数极大值,得到时差-频差联合估计。算法通过生成时差-频差样本,并统计样本加权均值得到估计值,克服了传统互模糊函数(CAF)算法只能得到时域和频域采样间隔整数倍估计值的问题,且不存在期望最大化(EM)等迭代算法的初值依赖和收敛问题。推导了时差-频差联合估计的克拉美罗下界(CRLB),并通过仿真实验表明,算法的计算复杂度适中,估计精度优于CAF算法和EM算法,在不同信噪比条件下估计误差接近CRLB。     

Bearings-only and Doppler-bearing tracking using instrumentalvariables

In bearings-only tracking (BOT) or Doppler and bearing tracking (DBT), both common passive sonar problems, the measurement equations are nonlinear. To apply the Kalman filter, it is necessary either to linearize the equations or to embed the nonlinearities into the noise terms. The former sometimes leads to filter divergence, while the latter produces biased estimates. A formulation of BOT and DBT which has a constant state vector and simplifies the tracking problem to one of constant parameter estimation is given. The solution is by the instrumental variable method. The instrumental variables are obtained from predictions based on past measurements and are therefore independent of the present noisy measurements. The result is a recursive unbiased estimator. The theoretical developments are verified by simulation, which also shows that the formulation leads to near optimal estimators whose errors are close to the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB)     

A Linear-correction Least-squares Approach for Geolocation Using FDOA Measurements Only

  A linear-correction least-squares(LCLS) estimation procedure is proposed for geolocation using frequency difference of arrival (FDOA) measurements only. We first analyze the measurements of FDOA, and further derive the Cram閞-Rao lower bound (CRLB) of geolocation using FDOA measurements. For the localization model is a nonlinear least squares(LS) estimator with a nonlinear constrained, a linearizing method is used to convert the model to a linear least squares estimator with a nonlinear constrained. The Gauss-Newton iteration method is developed to conquer the source localization problem. From the analysis of solving Lagrange multiplier, the algorithm is a generalization of linear-correction least squares estimation procedure under the condition of geolocation using FDOA measurements only. The algorithm is compared with common least squares estimation. Comparisons of their estimation accuracy and the CRLB are made, and the proposed method attains the CRLB. Simulation results are included to corroborate the theoretical development.     

Monopulse DOA estimation of two unresolved Rayleigh targets

This paper provides for new approaches to the processing of unresolved measurements as two direction-of-arrival (DOA) measurements for tracking closely spaced targets rather than the conventional single DOA measurement of the centroid. The measurements of the two-closely spaced targets are merged when the target echoes are not resolved in angle, range, or radial velocity (i.e., Doppler processing). The conditional Cramer Rao lower bound (CRLB) is developed for the DOA estimation of two unresolved Rayleigh targets using a standard monopulse radar. Then the modified CRLB is used to give insight into the boresight pointing for monopulse DOA estimation of two unresolved targets. Monopulse processing is considered for DOA estimation of two unresolved Rayleigh targets with known or estimated relative radar cross section (RCS). The performance of the DOA estimator is studied via Monte Carlo simulations and compared with the modified CRLB     

基于自适应分段混合系统的轴承故障诊断

针对强噪声背景下轴承早期故障的诊断问题,提出一种基于自适应分段混合随机共振（adaptive piecewise hybrid stochastic resonance,APHSR）系统的检测方法。采用经验模态分解法（EMD）进行信号预处理,分别采用能量密度法和相关系数法去除高、低频噪声,自动筛选最优固有模态函数,经尺度变换后输入分段混合随机共振系统模型,提取故障信号。工程实验显示:经过APHSR系统,轴承故障特征频率的频谱幅值、频谱幅值与周围最大噪声之差和最大信噪比（SNR）均高于经验模态分解和经典随机共振方法,其中齿轮箱故障轴承信噪比分别提高了9.579 dB和7.473 dB,转子故障轴承信噪比分别提升了8.597 dB和5.695 dB,对凯斯西储大学故障轴承数据处理后的信噪比分别提升了3.369 dB和17.043 dB。数据表明APHSR方法具有高效性,提高了轴承故障信号诊断能力。      

Directed Subspace Search ML-PDA with Application to Active Sonar Tracking

The maximum likelihood probabilistic data association (ML-PDA) tracking algorithm is effective in tracking Very Low Observable targets (i.e., very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) targets in a high false alarm environment). However, the computational complexity associated with obtaining the track estimate in many cases has precluded its use in real-time scenarios. Previous ML-PDA implementations used a multi-pass grid (MPG) search to find the track estimate. Two alternate methods for finding the track estimate are presented-a genetic search and a newly developed directed subspace (DSS) search algorithm. Each algorithm is tested using active sonar scenarios in which an autonomous underwater vehicle searches for and tracks a target. Within each scenario, the problem parameters are varied to illustrate the relative performance of each search technique. Both the DSS search and the genetic algorithm are shown to be an order of magnitude more computationally efficient than the MPG search, making possible real-time implementation. In addition, the DSS search is shown to be the most effective technique at tracking a target at the lowest SNR levels-reliable tracking down to 5 dB (postprocessing SNR in a resolution cell) using a 5-frame sliding window is demonstrated, this being 6 dB better than the MPG search.     

Mismatched Filtering of Sonar Signals

A replica correlator (matched filter) is an optimum processor for a receiver employing a pulse of continuous wave (CW) signal in a white Gaussian noise background. In an active sonar, however, when the target of interest has low Doppler shift and is embedded in a high reverberation background, this is not so. High sidelobes of the correlator frequency response pass a significant portion of the signal contained in the mainlobe of the reverberation spectrum. In order to reduce the sidelobes of the correlator output spectrum and at the same time keep the increase in its 3 dB bandwidth to a small amount, we propose lengthening of the replica of the transmitted signal and weighting it by a Kaiser window. It is demonstrated that by extending the weighted replica by 50 percent compared with the transmitted signal, it is possible to reduce the sidelobe levels to at least 40 dB below the mainlobe peak, with the concomitant increase of the 3 dB band-width by less than 5 percent. The degradation in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance for such a ?mismatched? filter receiver with respect to the matched filter is less than 1.5 dB.     

机载单站无源定位系统中相位差变化率提取方法(英文)

相位差变化率含有目标辐射源的距离信息,是机载单站无源定位系统中的重要参数。本文以正弦单载波脉冲信号为例,分析了基于相位差变化率的单站无源定位原理,以及测量误差的组成。基于对Cramer-Rao下限的分析,提出了一种基于多次观测的相位差变化率的高精度测量方法——时间片处理法。在相位差变化率的测量中,当信噪比较低时,频域鉴相方法优于时域鉴相方法,多时间片处理能够显著地降低测量方差,仿真验证了此算法的正确性和有效性。典型的无源定位场景的仿真验证了算法对动态测量的适应性。此测量算法简单、计算量小,易于实现。     

Track formation with bearing and frequency measurements in clutter

Target motion analysis from a narrowband passive sonar that yields bearing and frequency measurements in the presence of false detections (clutter) in a low-SNR (low signal-to-noise ratio) environment is discussed. The likelihood function used to compute the maximum likelihood estimation of the track parameters (localization and frequency) incorporates the false alarms via the probabilistic data association technique. The Cramer-Rao lower bound is calculated and results obtained from simulations are shown to be compatible with it. A test of track acceptance is also presented     

Frequency line tracking using HMM-based schemes [passive sonar]

This paper deals with fluctuating line tracking, present on the so-called lofargram (low frequency analysis and recording) encountered in any passive sonar system. Considering such a line as a random walk modeled by a first-order Markov chain, we have recourse to the hidden Markov models (HMMs) arsenal. More precisely, we propose to track a frequency line with Viterbi and forward-backward algorithms. The originality of this work comes from the fact that a "probabilistic integration of the spectral power" approach allows us to construct a signal-to-noise (SNR)-knowledge-free method. Intensive simulations reveal no loss of performance.     

Accurate single-observer passive coherent location estimation based on TDOA and DOA

This paper investigates the problem of target position estimation with a single-observer passive coherent location(PCL) system. An approach that combines angle with time difference of arrival(ATDOA) is used to estimate the location of a target. Compared with the TDOA-only method which needs two steps, the proposed method estimates the target position more directly. The constrained total least squares(CTLS) technique is applied in this approach. It achieves the Cramer–Rao lower bound(CRLB) when the parameter measurements are subject to small Gaussian-distributed errors. Performance analysis and the CRLB of this approach are also studied. Theory verifies that the ATDOA method gets a lower CRLB than the TDOA-only method with the same TDOA measuring error. It can also be seen that the position of the target affects estimating precision.At the same time, the locations of transmitters affect the precision and its gradient direction.Compared with the TDOA, the ATDOA method can obtain more precise target position estimation.Furthermore, the proposed method accomplishes target position estimation with a single transmitter,while the TDOA-only method needs at least four transmitters to get the target position. Furthermore,the transmitters' position errors also affect precision of estimation regularly.     

Peformance of dynamic programming techniques forTrack-Before-Detect

“Track-Before-Detect” (TBD) is a target tracking technique where no threshold is applied at each measurement frame. Instead, data are processed over a number of frames before decisions on target existence are made. The track is returned simultaneously with the detection. A simple algorithm is presented and demonstrated via simulations. A detailed analysis enables detection and tracking performance to be predicted for particular algorithm parameters. Good performance is observed at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with rapid degradation as SNR is reduced further. For some cases the detection performance does not improve regardless of how many frames of data are processed. Tracking performance may also be poor even though detection performance is good     

基于多边形膜片弹簧与压电致动器复合的一体化主被动Stewart减振系统

随着遥感卫星光学成像设备等精度的不断提升,其对振动环境的要求也在不断提高,简单的线性被动Stewart平台已经无法满足苛刻使用要求。提出了一种新型基于多边形膜片弹簧与压电致动器复合的一体化主被动Stewart减振平台,其单自由度元件主要由多边形膜片弹簧、压电致动器、力传感器以及柔性铰链组成。相较于传统线性隔振器存在的高静刚度和低动刚度之间的固有结构矛盾,所提出的多边形膜片弹簧作为隔振器的关键原件,兼具高静-低动（HSLD）特性,能够使隔振系统同时具备较高的静态刚度进行静态承载以及较低的动刚度进行动态减振。为了降低被动隔振系统中存在的共振峰幅值,本文在被动膜片弹簧元件的基础上串联一个压电致动器与力传感器组成的主动控制元件进行主动振动控制。仿真结果表明,采用比例积分力（PIF）反馈控制算法的主动控制系统,在频域上不仅可以通过积分力环节搭建出天棚阻尼的效果来降低共振峰峰值（11.19 dB）,而且其比例-力环节可等效为增大了质量矩阵项,能够有效降低减振系统的固有频率（20.9 Hz）,拓宽其减振带宽,并同时能维持高频段的高衰减性,在时域上也能够将系统的加速度振动幅值从±0.6g降低至±0.07g,振动衰减达88%。     

基于修正Rife算法的脉冲回波相参积累算法

针对目标径向运动导致回波在波门内出现距离走动的情况,提出了一种针对径向匀速运动目标回波信号长时间相参积累的方法。该方法根据傅里叶变换的时移性质——不同时刻回波频谱相关序列的频率包含了各回波到达的时间延迟,通过修正Rife算法估计此时间延迟,最终确定并补偿各个回波的距离走动分量。仿真结果表明:提出的方法可以有效补偿各回波间的距离走动;信噪比低至-6dB时,算法的性能即可达到最优;补偿后积累信号的信噪比可以达到理想积累情况下的93%。