Monopulse radar based on spatiotemporal correlation of stochastic signals

The theory and technique of angle-of-arrival (AOA) estimation using random-noise or other stochastic transmit waveforms is addressed. The additional uncertainties induced by signal itself and the statistical complexity of the received signals result in major challenges. The statistical properties of the random-noise interferometer and monopulse radar system are studied and compared theoretically using an approximation method. Furthermore, a random-noise coherent correlation receiver (CCR) architecture is proposed. The concept of mean monopulse characteristic curve (MMCC) is introduced. Experimental results using an X-band random-noise monopulse radar system validate the theoretical predictions of random-noise monopulse characteristics and suggest potential applications such as surveillance, imaging, and maneuvering target tracking.     

Monopulse-radar angle tracking in noise or noise jamming

In many monopulse radars, feedback in the angle-tracking servo system is taken to be directly proportional to the monopulse ratio. In those radars, monopulse measurements are conditioned on simultaneous occurrences of receiver sum-channel video exceeding a detection threshold: if a detection fails to occur, the measurement is ignored, and the angle-tracking servo is made to coast. Such conditioning is shown to be necessary in order that the noise power be finite in the servo feedback. The conditional mean value and conditional variance of the monopulse ratio are derived and quantified in terms of threshold level as well as signal-to-noise ratio. The formulation permits the noise covariance between receiver difference and sum channels to be complex rather than only real-valued, so that the sources of noise jamming are not required to be positioned in the receiving-antenna mainlobe and to be copolarized with the antenna response there. Nonfluctuating and Rayleigh-fluctuating target cases are considered and compared, and fluctuation loss is quantified     

Maximum likelihood angle extractor for two closely spaced targets

In a scenario of closely spaced targets special attention has to be paid to radar signal processing. We present an advanced processing technique, which uses the maximum likelihood (ML) criterion to extract from a monopulse radar separate angle measurements for unresolved targets. This processing results in a significant improvement, in terms of measurement error standard deviations, over angle estimators using the monopulse ratio. Algorithms are developed for Swerling I as well as Swerling III models of radar cross section (RCS) fluctuations. The accuracy of the results is compared with the Cramer Rao lower bound (CRLB) and also to the monopulse ratio technique. A novel technique to detect the presence of two unresolved targets is also discussed. The performance of the ML estimator was evaluated in a benchmark scenario of closely spaced targets - closer than half power beamwidth of a monopulse radar. The interacting multiple model probabilistic data association (IMMPDA) track estimator was used in conjunction with the ML angle extractor     

机载雷达中的单脉冲技术

 本文总结机载雷达中单脉冲技术的研究和应用,着重讨论幅度比较系统的关键技术,给出有关数据。 机载雷达中的单脉冲技术着眼于抗干扰性能和特殊应用。这些应用包括空对地测距、角分辨力改进、地形防撞。本文阐述了这些特殊应用。     

Adaptive digital beamforming for angle estimation in jamming

A radar digital beamforming (DBF) architecture and processing algorithm is described for nulling the signal from a mainlobe electronic jammer and multiple sidelobe electronic jammers while maintaining monopulse angle estimation accuracy on the target. The architecture consists of a sidelobe jamming (SLJ) cancelling adaptive array (AA) followed by a mainlobe jamming (MLJ) canceller. A mainlobe maintenance (MLM) technique or constrained adaptation during the sidelobe cancellation process is imposed so that the results of the SLJ cancellation process do not distort the subsequent mainlobe cancellation process. The SLJ signals and the MLJ signals are thus cancelled sequentially in separate processes. This technique was developed for improving radar processing in determining the angular location of a target, and specifically for improving the monopulse technique by maintaining the accuracy of the target echo monopulse ratio in the presence of electronic jamming by adaptive suppression of the jamming signals before forming the monopulse sum and difference beams     

Monopulse-radar tracking of swerling III-IV targets using multiple observations

This paper proposes a novel statistical prediction of monopulse errors (Levanon, 1988) for a radar Swerling III-IV target embedded in noise or noise jamming where multiple observations are available. First, the study of the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the complex monopulse ratio for a Swerling III-IV target embedded in spatially white noise allows us to extend the use of the MLE practical approximate form introduced by Mosca (1969) for Swerling 0-I-II cases. Afterward, we derive analytical formulas for both the mean and variance of the MLE in approximate form conditioned by the usual detection step performed on the sum channel of a monopulse antenna. Last, we provide a comparison of target direction of arrival (DOA) estimation performance based on monopulse ratio estimation as a function of the Swerling model in the context of a multifunction radar.     

Monopulse Estimation of the Centroid of an Ensemble of Radar Scatterers

The use of data obtained by a monopulse radar to estimate the location of the radar cross-section centroid of an ensemble of scatterers is discussed. Both dish and phased-array antenna radars are treated. Expressions for the bias and variance of the centroid estimates are presented, including the effects of the radar receiver and beam pattern characteristics, receiver noise, and the video waveform sampling granularity, as well as the target properties. The monopulse tracking approach discussed here is contrasted with a raster scan approach presented previously.     

Reply Correlation Test Analysis in Monopulse Beacon Radars

The statistical behavior of the position data furnished by single air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS) reports is analyzed. Some statistical models are correspondingly derived in order to be employed for the performance evaluation of the dwell-time section of the ATCRBS monopulse receiver. The expression of the failure probability is derived for the range and azimuth tests performed by the association algorithms operating in the monopulse ATCRBS target data extractor. Some numerical results are reported referring to the evaluation of the above failure probabilities in different conditions.     

Maximum likelihood azimuth estimation applied to SSR/IFF systems

A conventional (nonmonopulse) secondary surveillance radar (SSR) is significantly cheaper than a monopulse SSR but exhibits much greater azimuthal error, especially when some of the replies are missing. Estimation techniques and their performance are discussed with special reference to SSR applications, and a novel estimator for conventional SSR is described. The proposed technique is a close approximation of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE), taking into account the receiver characteristics as well as the missed replies. Estimator performance obtained by analysis and computer simulation is compared with that of conventional estimators that are based on the leading and trailing edges of binary sequences and shows significantly improved accuracy     

反向交叉眼对单脉冲雷达干扰效果分析及仿真验证

交叉眼干扰被认为是对单脉冲雷达干扰最有效的方式之一。基于雷达方程建立了隔离平台回波下的两点源反向交叉眼干扰模型，推导了交叉眼干扰欺骗角一般性公式，研究了干扰机发射天线间距、干扰平台旋转角和干扰机相对雷达之间距离等参数变化对角度欺骗效果的影响，并依据单脉冲雷达接收机获取角度的信息处理流程，建立了单脉冲雷达接收机仿真模型，对交叉眼数学模型的正确性和局限性进行了分析。研究结果表明：单脉冲雷达越靠近两点源交叉眼干扰机中心线、干扰机两发射天线间距越大、与干扰机距离越近时，角度欺骗效果越好；单脉冲雷达的欺骗角度随着与干扰机距离的接近呈指数式增大；数学模型和仿真模型计算的单脉冲雷达角度误差最大值随干扰机天线与雷达天线中心连线的夹角的增大呈指数化增长。研究可为交叉眼干扰工程设计作参考。     

Radar measurement extraction in the presence of sea-surface multipath

In the presence of sea-surface multipath monopulse radar signals from a low elevation target have three alternative paths in addition to the direct (radar-to-target) path due to reflections from the sea surface. The specular reflection causes significant signal fading. The diffuse reflection causes an approximately constant bias to the in-phase component of the monopulse ratio, which is the standard extractor of the direction of arrival (DOA) in the monopulse processing. The diffuse reflection also causes higher standard deviation to the in-phase component of the monopulse ratio. We propose a maximum likelihood (ML) angle extraction technique for low elevation targets of known average signal strength having a Rayleigh fluctuation. The results show that this method reduces the error of the estimated angle compared with the conventional monopulse ratio estimator. Subsequently, the ML angle extractor is modified for the unknown average signal strength case. This modified angle extractor has only a small performance degradation compared with the known average signal strength case, but it performs much better than the monopulse ratio based estimator. An algorithm to calculate the accuracy of the estimated angle (or height) is also presented. This angle extractor reduces the root-mean-square error (RMSE) by more than 50% in the signal processing stage when used in a low flying target tracking scenario. The same algorithm can be used to track sea skimmers.     

Detection of Target Multiplicity Using Monopulse Quadrature Angle

The feasibility of using the indicated quadrature angle of arrival of a monopulse radar to discriminate a single target from multiple targets, separated in angle within a radar resolution cell, is investigated. The analysis is performed for steady (fixed) and Rayleigh fluctuating targets which cover a broad range of target characteristics. In both cases, the interfering signals due to noise and clutter in the sum and difference monopulse channels are assumed to be independent, zero-mean Gaussian processes. Detection and false alarm probabilities are evaluated analytically and the receiver operating characteristics are obtained for both fixed and fluctuating target cases. It is shown that multiple targets can be discriminated from a single target condition by integrating the indicated monopulse quadrature angle of arrival from several independent pulses. It is also shown that the probability of detecting multiple targets increases as the fluctuation in the target radar cross section decreases, approaching the fixed amplitude case in the limit.     

Variance Analysis of the Angle Output Voltage for an Amplitude Monopulse Receiver

The amplitude-comparison monopulse receiver utilizes two overlapping antenna patterns to determine the angle of arrival of an incoming RF signal for use in a direction-finding application. The thermal noise introduced by the receiver distorts the signal, causing an error in determining the exact angle of arrival of the signal. The analysis derives an expression for the deviation of the angle output voltage, or the angular error, due to receiver noise as a function of 1) the angle of arrival and 2) the signal-to-noise ratios of the two channels of the receiver. A receiver using a square-law detector and one using a linear detector are analyzed.     

Performance Analysis of Monopulse Receivers for Secondary Surveillance Radar

In modern secondary surveillance radar (SSR) the monopulse technique is currently introduced for the measurement of the azimuth of the targets. The monopulse technique is based on a suitable processing of signals received by a multiple antenna. In SSR the signals are generated by a transponder on the aircraft as replies to interrogations from ground equipment, and consist of trains of pulses. The monopulse measurements can be carried out on the basis of a single pulse from each train, so that it provides a great number of azimuth estimates. Many monopulse measurement devices exist, corresponding to different processing techniques. From the point of view of accuracy and precision, their behaviors differ with respect to the sources of errors, both internal (noise and imperfect calibrations) and external (interference and propagation effects). The four main types of monopulse receivers are analyzed here with respect to the effects of the internal error sources on the resulting measurement accuracy. After an introductory discussion of the performances of the receivers, a detailed analysis is carried out on the basis of a general mathematical model. The results are given in an analytical form and in some comprehensive diagrams.     

Multiple Gaussian Targets: The Track-on-Jam Problem

When a radar with amplitude comparison monopulse arithmetic encounters signals from multiple Gaussian sources it will "point" to the centroid of the incident radiation. The probability density function (pdf) of the monopulse ratio when N independent samples of difference and sum signals are processed in a maximum likelihood receiver is derived. For finite jam-to-noise ratio the estimate has a bias which is independent of N. The variance in the estimate does however depend upon N. Central moments of order less than or equal 2N - 2 exist and are given by a simple formula. Plots of the pdf and its bias and variance for various jam-to-noise ratios, locations of the centroid with respect to the boresight direction, and number of samples processed are presented in the accompanying figures.     

单脉冲成像算法性能分析

单脉冲技术通过比较单个脉冲多路回波信号的信息实现对目标角度位置的精确测量,广泛运用于跟踪雷达中。在雷达成像中引入单脉冲技术可以显著提高前视这一合成孔径雷达(SAR)与多普勒波束锐化(DBS)成像盲区雷达图像的清晰度。本文着重对单脉冲成像算法的成像效果分析方法进行研究。从单脉冲和差比的概率密度函数出发,提出了目标图像位置失真、分辨率以及图像信噪比3个对图像质量进行衡量的指标。分析了决定这3个指标的系统及外部环境参数,并给出了相应的计算方法。最终通过数值积分以及Monte-Carlo仿真实验对理论分析结果进行了验证。     

Radar Performance with Multipath Using the Complex Angle

The complex angle (CA) method for resolving a low angle target from its multipath signal is evaluated in the presence of system noise. It is shown that standard deviation improvements of around 3-to-1 can be achieved at a 20-dB signal-to-noise power ratio relative to a normal monopulse system without the CA. It is also shown that the CA method is unbiased, giving bias improvements of as much as 100 times relative to normal monopulse. Evaluation of the assumptions in the technique shows very little sensitivity to knowledge of the reflecting surface's conductivity or dielectric constant. However, the method is somewhat sensitive to knowledge of surface roughness.     

Satellite Tracking Simultaneous-Lobing Monopulse Receiving System with Polarization Diversity Capability

A 136-MHz to 10-GHz simultaneous-lobing monopulse receiving system, utilizing polarization diversity in both coherent (phase-lock) and noncoherent (nonphase-lock) operational modes, has been developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN). This sum-and-difference monopulse system, called APDAR (Advanced Polarization Diversity Autotrack Receiver), utilizes a maximalratio polarization diversity combining technique that matches the receiving antenna polarization to the incoming variable polarization from a spin-stabilized or tumbling satellite. Autotrack performance becomes independent of the incoming polarization orientation by continuous in-phase addition of the carrier-signal components from orthogonal antenna elements. This technique relies upon the principle that fading does not occur simultaneously on oppositely polarized receiving channels. APDAR results in improved autotrack performance by eliminating adverse effects of severe (over 30-dB) cross-polarization fading. The predetection diversity combining technique employed provides an average 3-dB signal-to-noise (SNR) improvement. This paper describes a series of 136-MHz satellite tracking tests and analyzes a maximal-ratio predetection diversity combiner, a three-loop phase-lock loop system, and a frequency-switched radiometer.     

Performance Analysis of a Dwell-Time Processor for Monopulse Beacon Radars

Performance of a monopulse air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS) target data extractor is analyzed via an analytical approach. Results refer to a statistical analysis of the section of the receiver which associates replies sent by the desired aircraft during the antenna dwell-time. Some numerical results are reported which refer to the ATCRBS section to be devised in the discrete address beacon system (DABS).     

Varieties of Average Monopulse Responses to Multiple Targets

A monopulse receiver exhibits three apparently distinct types of average response when the radar sees two jammers, two passive targets, or one of each. This variety of response types is analyzed and shown to be consistent, i.e., the responses are shown to be special cases of a general formula which applies to two independent targets with uniformly distributed phase difference.