Radar target classification of commercial aircraft

With the increased availability of coherent wideband radars there has been a renewed interest in radar target recognition. A large bandwidth gives high resolution in range which means target discrimination may be possible. Coherence makes cross-range resolution and radar images possible. Some of the problems of classifying high resolution range profiles (HRRPs) are examined and simple preprocessing techniques which may aid subsequent target classification are investigated. These techniques are applied to HRRP data acquired at a local airport using the Microwave Radar Division (MRD) mobile radar facility It is found that Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft can be reliably distinguished over a range of aspect angles. This augers well for future target classification studies using HRRPs     

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.     

Aircraft trajectories considering radar range constraints

The problem of finding an optimal aircraft trajectory subject to constraints defining distance of detection to hostile radar stations is considered. The purpose is to find a trajectory minimizing the flight time between two given positions without hostile radar detection. The flight path is represented using a smooth curve in the form of a spline approximation. The spline representation is used to derive the heading- and bank angles of the aircraft. The position of the aircraft together with the bank- and heading angles are used for calculations of the radar detection range. Furthermore, an example in three dimensions when a Saab 105 approaches a radar station in level flight is investigated.     

基于低可探测性的参考航迹规划

根据分层规划思想,确定参考航迹是进行航迹规划时首先要解决的问题。在充分考虑雷达探测的各种环境因素及飞行器RCS方位分布特性的基础上,将雷达对目标发现概率作为参考航迹的一个重要评价指标,基于自适应进化算法,采用新的遗传算子,最终生成综合考虑雷达威胁和飞行距离的参考航迹。结果表明,该航迹规划模型能根据对低可探测性和航程的不...     

Computer Simulation of Synthetic Aperture Radar Images of Three-Dimensional Objects

A digital simulation of coherent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of three-dimensional objects is described. The simulation is intended to produce representative SAR images that would be suitable for image analysis and pattern recognition studies. The procedure involves a modeling of the object using a combination of three-dimensional quadratic shapes yielding a smooth surface representation. The radar images of these models are then computed using physical optics scattering theory. Finite resolution both in range and cross-range direction is incorporated via a theoretical analysis which results in a simple Fourier transform representation of an equivalent "offset" window filter. Examples of the computer simulation for both infinite resolution and blurred or finite resolution are given for a KC-135 aircraft model.     

Pulse Doppler signature of a rotary-wing aircraft

Field measurements of a modified Sikorsky S-55 helicopter target were carried out to investigate rotary-wing aircraft Doppler radar signature phenomenology. The results of the data analysis with regard to classification and identification of the aircraft based on its signature are presented. It was found that using the Doppler radar return and appropriate feature extraction techniques, the helicopter's design features can be estimated. Target backscatter from the main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, or hub can be used for target detection, acquisition, and classification as a rotary-wing aircraft. The extraction of configuration and blade count features can further define the helicopter for identification     

A track filter for reentry objects with uncertain drag

A filter was developed for maintaining track on ballistic missiles whose drag profiles are unknown or deviate significantly from prior predictions. The filter employs an innovative form of a seven-state Kalman filter in which object drag is included as a state to be estimated. Using measurements of range, azimuth, and elevation, the filter can track endo- and exo-atmospheric targets on a wide variety of trajectories without requiring a priori tuning to account for variations in reentry angle, drag history, measurement signal-to-noise ratio, etc. The filter was designed to be implemented at the millimeter wave (MMW) radar (a high-range-resolution, narrow beamwidth, Ka-band radar) located at Kwajalein Missile Range (KMR) in the Marshall Islands. Extensive testing and comparisons using a high fidelity simulation showed the new filter to be robust to a wide variety of trajectories and substantially better than track filters presently used at KMR. The filter was coded to run efficiently in real time, installed at the MMW radar, and successfully used to track an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with varying drag characteristics through exo-atmospheric and reentry phases. The filter yielded a more accurate and responsive track than possible with the previously used filter on a similar trajectory     

The untold Pearl Harbor radar story

Ever wonder what happened to the radar set that detected the Japanese aircraft before the raid on Pearl Harbor? This article reveals the fate of that SCR-270 radar set; describes some of the radar development background; and includes typical results of a World War II command, control and communications system that used the SCR-270 as its backbone radar. The SCR-270 was a radio-echo detection and direction finding set for locating aircraft. It operated by transmitting a short-duration pulse of high frequency radio waves, which would be reflected or re-radiated by any metallic or conducting surface within the field of the directive transmitting antenna; therefore, one or more aircraft within the antenna field appeared as a source of reflected radio waves. Rotating the antenna which also served as the receiving antenna, provided a means for determining the azimuth or direction of aircraft. The system measured the time it took a blip or reflected return from the target to appear on a cathode ray tube indicator, to give the distance or range to the detected aircraft. The maximum range of the radar was about 250 miles up to 50,000 feet under all atmospheric conditions including rain, mist, smoke or fog, and during daylight or darkness. The azimuth and range data supplied by the set permitted the plotting of the location of detected aircraft on maps. Major performance characteristics of the radar are provided in the included table     

A three-state Kalman tracker using position and rate measurements

A three-state Kalman tracker is described for tracking a moving target, such as an aircraft, making use of the position and rate measurements obtained by a track-white-scan radar sensor which employs pulsed Doppler processing, such as the moving target detector providing unambiguous Doppler data. The steady-state filter parameters have been analytically obtained under the assumption of white noise maneuver capability. The numerical computations of these parameters are in excellent agreement with those obtained from the recursive Kalman filter matrix equations. The solution for the case when only the range measurements are available is obtained as a special case of this model. Graphs of normalized covariances and gains are presented to illustrate how the solution depends on different parameters     

A Nonlinear Tracker Using Attitude Measurements

The subject of this paper involves tracking the present position of a maneuvering aircraft as well as predicting its future position. A tracking filter is developed that uses aircraft attitude angles (yaw, pitch, roll) in addition to the usual radar measurements. Computer simulation of tracker performance when tracking violently maneuvering aircraft indicates that a dramatic improvement is obtained by using attitude information. The approach taken is to develop a 12-or 15-state extended Kalman filter that models both translational and rotational degrees of freedom. By measuring and estimating attitude it is possible to approximately determine the magnitude and direction of the force system acting on the vehicle and therefore determine vehicle linear acceleration. Knowledge of acceleration is then used to improve the estimate of present and future position of the vehicle being tracked. Simulation of a T-38 aircraft performing a 5 g turn indicates that the new tracker produces maximum trajectory prediction errors that are 36 percent of the errors experienced by more conventional trackers.     

应用卡尔曼滤波的机载雷达跟踪系统

本文论述将滤波理论应用于机载雷达中对单个目标进行距离、速度、方位角和高低角跟踪的多环反馈系统。首先根据目标和天线的相对运动建立控制四坐标跟踪环所需的状态矢量微分方程,然后推导相应的非线性滤波算法。最后给出计算机的模拟结果。计算机模拟的结果清晰地说明采用最佳滤波的系统性能比通常的有很大改善,并且这种瞄准轴坐标系的最佳系统对目标的随机机动是不灵敏的。 本文所讨论的方法和得出的结论可以延用到地面雷达、舰载雷达以及其他有源和无源的跟踪系统。     

离散跟踪微分器在着舰导引滤波中的应用

介绍了自动着舰导引系统的工作原理及其滤波问题。为了抑制着舰导引系统跟踪雷达的高频噪声,并且克服常用的滤波器采用有限差分法求微分估计的弊端,采用两个二阶离散跟踪微分器串联起来,对含有噪声的雷达测量值进行滤波,并且提取其一二阶微分信息。结果表明,在仿真中使用白噪声模拟雷达噪声,跟踪微分器的滤波效果令人满意。     

飞机总体参数与作战效能的关系研究

用计算机辅助飞机设计程序研究了飞机总体参数与作战效能的关系,并在选定的约束条件下对作战效能进行了优化设计和参数敏感性分析。研究表明,如起飞重量一定,则靠飞机性能的改善仅能使作战效能提高２０％～３０％,而装备先进雷达和中程导弹可使作战效能提高１５０％以上。     

Use of Airborne Monopulse Radar as a Low Approach Aid

The potential of airborne radar to provide pictorial displays as an aid to low approach has stimulated invention of several aircraft approach systems. Early developments are reviewed briefly, and an experiment in producing and flight testing a two-dimensional, range and azimuth, pictorial radar display is described. The monopulse radar equipment and a monopulse display improvement (MDI) technique used in the flight test to enhance the B-scope display are also described in some detail. Representative radar scope photographs are used to illustrate the display available in the aircraft.     

Computation of aircraft geometric height under radar surveillance

A radar system for geometric height estimation of civil aircraft is described. The system consists of one standard or mode S secondary surveillance radar (SSR) and one omnidirectional antenna sited away from SSR under an airplane. The geometric height is derived by trilateration. Systematic errors are compensated for by deriving the profile of the effect on height measurements of the bias in range measurements. A curve-fitting technique is then used, which estimates both the geometric height and any non-zero systematic errors     

The AN/APS-6 radar

The AN/APS-6 radar was to scan a 1200 coneshaped volume ahead of the aircraft flight path in selected ranges of five, 25 and 65 miles for radar search, with the maximum range extended to 100 miles for radar beacon. When within one-half mile of a selected target, the set could be switched to the gun aim mode for accurate aim-and-fire of the six 50-caliber aircraft guns. The design, installation and protection of this radar are described     

Identifying the number of aircraft in formation flight using ISAR technique

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Optimum Frequencies for Aircraft Classification

The selection of the optimum features for aircraft classification from radar returns was studied. A constraint was imposed that a minimum number of simultaneous frequencies be used. The results indicate that a high reliability of classification is achievable with only two frequencies, and even a single frequency can provide over 95 percent reliability if both phase and amplitude at two orthogonal polarizations are used. The data set tested involved eight military aircraft whose sizes varied over a three-to-one range.     

High Range-Resolution Monopulse Tracking Radar

High range-resolution monopulse (HRRM) tracking radar which maintains wide instantaneous bandwidth through both range and angle error sensing channels provides range, azimuth, elevation, and amplitude for each resolved part of the target. The three-dimensional target detail can be used to improve and extend radar performance in several ways: for improved precision of target location, for target classification and recognition, to counter repeater-type ECM, to improve low-angle multipath tracking, to resolve multiple targets, as a miss-distance measurement capability, and for improved tracking in chaff and clutter. These have been demonstrated qualitatively except for the ECCM to repeater ECM and low-altitude tracking improvement. Initial results from an experimental HRRM radar with 3-ns pulse length show resolution of aircraft into its major parts and precise location of each resolved part accurately in range and angle. Realtime closed-loop tracking is performed on aircraft in flight using high-speed sampled, digitized, and processed HRRM range and angle video data. Clutter rejection capability is also demonstrated.     

Analytical Steady State Solution for a Kalman Tracking Filter

Analytical expressions are given for the steady state solution to a Kalman tracking filter used in a track-while-scan radar system. The radar sensor measures range and range rate, and both these measurements are utilized in the filter. The solution for range measurements only is obtained as a special case. Graphs are also given which show how the solution depends on different parameters.