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.     

SAR ATR performance using a conditionally Gaussian model

A family of conditionally Gaussian signal models for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is presented, extending a related class of models developed for high resolution radar range profiles. This signal model is robust with respect to the variations of the complex-valued radar signals due to the coherent combination of returns from scatterers as those scatterers move through relative distances on the order of a wavelength of the transmitted signal (target speckle). The target type and the relative orientations of the sensor, target, and ground plane parameterize the conditionally Gaussian model. Based upon this model, algorithms to jointly estimate both the target type and pose are developed. Performance results for both target pose estimation and target recognition are presented for publicly released data from the MSTAR program     

雷达低空目标俯仰角跟踪的C2算法研究

在单脉冲测角体制下,由于多径回波信号的干扰,极大地降低了雷达低空目标仰俯角跟踪精度,甚至丢失目标。通过对多路径反射环境模型分析,得出了岸、海基单脉冲雷达低空目标跟踪时仰俯角测量误差的产生原因,提出将传统的多目标分辨算法(C2算法)应用于低角多径环境下目标俯仰角的跟踪测量,并在不同多径反射环境下对不同高度、不同飞行速度和飞行方向的目标进行了仿真,得到良好的仿真结果,表明该算法可较大地提高俯仰角跟踪测量精度。通过对仿真结果的分析,验证了该算法在低空目标跟踪中的有效性和可行性。     

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.     

基于高度分集的两波束米波雷达测高方法及其应用

米波雷达的波束较宽、由于地面反射引起波瓣分裂,通常只能估高而不能用来测高.针对这一难题本文提出一种基于高度分集的两波束米波雷达测高方法.该方法采用高度不同的两个天线,利用波瓣分裂情况及相互相位关系来测量目标高度.文章分析了此方法测高的精度及影响精度的一些因素.本测高方法已应用于某型雷达信号处理机中,并取得良好效果.     

海面低飞情况下机载航管二次雷达覆盖研究

二次雷达较之一次雷达有许多优点，使其在军用和民用领域得到广泛应用。但当装有航管二次雷达的飞机在海面低飞时，会出现常见的多径效应现象。文章详细分析了飞机机体和海面对航管二次雷达方向图的影响，并利用HFSS软件对飞机在海面低飞时航管二次雷达方向图进行仿真。结果表明，海面影响航管二次雷达的方向图并导致根据其分叉变形，根据平面对天线方向图的影响及其计算公式，对不同飞行高度的方向图进行了计算，得出了在海面低飞时的最佳飞行高度。     

Dominant scatterer identification testing with an integrated X-bandradar system

Radar return data from airborne jet aircraft were collected and analyzed to determine the presence of consistent, dominant radar returns of point scatterers on aircraft simulating landing conditions. These measurements were performed by integrating two separate X-band radars into one system with the ability to simultaneously track and image aircraft. Selected processed data from both radar systems were analyzed and are presented for the airborne jet aircraft     

全自动主着陆/着舰引导数据解算与融合算法

针对舰载机全自动自主着陆/着舰对飞机定位精确要求高的需求,提出了一种利用卫星导航和雷达联合进行信息融合精确定位算法。文章采用载波相位差分定位、野值剔除和序贯异类数据融合技术,有效提高了对飞机的定位引导精度和可靠性。     

High resolution 3D “snapshot” ISAR imaging and featureextraction

We have developed a new formulation for three dimensional (3D) radar imaging of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) data based on recent developments in high resolution spectral estimation theory. Typically for non real-time applications, image formation is a two step process consisting of motion determination and image generation. The technique presented focuses on this latter process, and assumes the motion of the target is known. The new technique offers several advantages over conventional techniques which are based on the correlation imaging function. In particular, the technique provides for a direct 3D estimate (versus back projection to a 3D target grid matrix) of the locations of the dominant scattering centers using only a minimum set of independent 2D range-Doppler ISAR “snapshots” of the target. Because of the snapshot nature of the technique, it is particularly applicable to 3D imaging of sectors of sparse-angle data, for which the sidelobes of the correlation imaging integral become high. Furthermore, the technique provides for an estimate of amplitude and phase of each scattering center as a function of aspect angle to the target, for those aspect angles which encompass the set of 2D range-Doppler snapshots. Results illustrating the technique developed are presented for both simulated and static range data     

An Automatic System for the Control of Multiple Drone Aircraft

A conceptual system is proposed and described for the control of a multiplicity of drone aircraft. Each target (drone) aircraft is controlled, during a given mission, over a separate preprogrammed path comprised of straight line and circular arc segments. Full control of each target's altitude, plan position, and velocity is available. Position measurement can be obtained by use of either a radar or a bilateration method where altitude is measured in either case by each aircraft and telemetered to a central control point. Velocity is obtained by smoothing position data in a central computer, which also controls the entire mission complex.     

Second time around radar return suppression using PRI modulation

A technique for suppressing second-time-around radar returns using pulse-repetition interval (PRI) modulation is presented and analyzed. It is shown that a staggered PRI radar system can offer considerable improvement over a nonstaggered radar system in rejecting second-time-around returns which cause false alarms. This improvement is a function of detector implementation (noncoherent integrator or binary integrator), the number of staggered PRIs, the quiescent false alarm number, the Swerling number of the false return, the transmitted signal power, the second-time-around noise power, and the quiescent noise power of the radar. Small changes in transmitted signal power can be traded off with the quiescent false alarm number to suppress the bogus return significantly. In addition, for a noncoherent integrator, all other parameters being equal, if the second-time-around return is a Swerling case II or IV target, then there is an optimum number of staggered PRIs that can be chosen to minimize the likelihood of its detection. It is also shown that the binary integrator significantly reduces the number of second-time-around return detections when compared with the noncoherent integrator. However, there is an accompanying loss of detection     

Estimation of Aircraft Target Motion Using Orientation Measurements

A new approach to estimating motion of a highly maneuverable aircraft target in an air-to-air tracking scenario is presented. An interactive filter system is developed that provides an improved estimate of target motion states by conditioning kinematic filter estimates on target aspect angle data. Pattern recognition techniques used with an electrooptical tracker are presumed to provide this target aspect information. A target orientation filter processes the aspect angle measurements by statistically weighting measured aspect angles with the current best estimate of target kinematics. The aerodynamic lift equation is used to relate approximate angle of attack to target velocity and acceleration. A novel statistical model for aircraft target normal acceleration is also developed to represent better the unknown target accelerations. Simulation results of realistic three-dimensional scenarios are presented to evaluate the performance of the interactive filter system.     

A statistical hypothesis testing approach to the determination ofsupportable aircraft separation standards

This paper deals with the setting of a statistical hypothesis testing approach to the determination of aircraft separation standards that can be supported within a given Flight Information Region. Given a minimal safety distance to be maintained between two aircraft, we derive a criterion that must be obeyed by their radar plots in order to meet the required separation at a known level of confidence. Conversely, given that a minimal safety distance is maintained between two radar plots, one can find the actual separation that can be guaranteed between both aircraft. The results described here can help to implement automated conflict alert and minimum safe altitude warning facilities     

A technique for enhanced slant range resolution for SAR systems inknowledge-based environment

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an airborne (or spaceborne) radar mapping technique for generating high resolution maps of surface target areas including terrain. High resolution is achieved by coherently combining the returns from a number of radar transmissions. The resolution of the images is determined by the parameters of the emissions, with more data giving greater resolution. A requirement of the Microwave Radar Division's SAR radar is to provide classification of targets. This paper presents a technique for enhancing slant range resolution in SAR images by dithering the carrier centre frequency of the transmitted signal. The procedure controls the radar waveforms so they will optimally perform the classification function, rather than provide an image of best quality. It is shown that a Knowledge-Based engineering approach to determining the waveform of the radar gives considerably improved performance as a classifier of targets (of large radar cross-section), even though the corresponding image is degraded     

JEM modeling and measurement for radar target identification

The jet engine modulation (JEM) phenomenon, observed in radar returns from the rotating structure of jet engines, has been successfully exploited for aircraft target identification in a number of experimental radar systems. The authors develop a parametric model based on the periodic modulation of the scattered return, motivated by the potential reduction in time-on-target for reliable target identification provided by parametric models as well as by gaining insight into the JEM phenomenon. They compare the model with JEM measurements made with an experimental radar system and discuss the implications for JEM-based target identification systems     

Threshold Control for Automatic Detection in Radar Systems

In automatic detection in radar systems an estimate of background clutter power is used to set the detection threshold. Usually detection cells surrounding the cell under test for the presence of a target are used to estimate the clutter power. In the research reported herein, the target location is taken to be uncertain and thus returns from a target could corrupt this clutter power estimate. It is shown how the threshold should be varied to compensate for the resulting degradation in detection performance. The threshold control procedure is based on a priori information about target location that could be supplied by the radar's tracking system. In addition, a simple procedure for calculating detection and false alarm probabilities for Swerling II target models is presented.     

基于3DT的空时自适应单脉冲参数估计算法

空时自适应处理(STAP)是机载预警雷达抑制杂波和干扰的一项关键技术,而多普勒三通道联合自适应处理(3DT)是适合工程实现的降维(RD)STAP方法。STAP目标检测后还需进一步估计目标的角度参数,因此将自适应单脉冲(AM)技术引入3DT,提出了一种高精度联合估计目标速度与方位空间角的空时自适应单脉冲算法。理论分析与仿真实验结果表明,当目标多普勒频率偏离检测多普勒单元中心频率时,该算法能同时减少目标多普勒跨越损失和空时导引矢量失配损失,进而提高输出信杂噪比(SCNR),改善目标测角精度。     

Microwave Radiometric Sensing for Air Navigation

This paper discusses the results of an analytic study of the feasibility of using microwave radiometry as a technique for navigation data sensing in Army aircraft. The study included a review of Army aircraft characteristics and navigation requirements. Various means of sensing passively aircraft velocity, altitude, and velocity-altitude ratio were considered. While there appears to be no practical method for direct measurement of either velocity or altitude separately, it does appear possible to measure velocity-altitude ratio by comparing radiometric signals received from the terrain along the aircraft ground track. When combined with a radar altimeter, such a sensor could yield navigation data compatible with Army aircraft requirements. Microwave radiometry may also be the basis for direction sensing (to known landmarks) in high-flying aircraft or satellites.     

HF OTHR target detection and estimation subsystem

This paper describes the principle of the target detection and estimation with a high frequency ground wave over-the-horizon radar, introduces the structure and the implementation of the detection and estimation subsystem that can process signals in parallel. The accomplished experimental results demonstrate that this system can successfully detect and estimate the over-the-horizon ship and aircraft