Receiver antenna scan rate requirements needed to implement pulsechasing in a bistatic radar receiver

Pulse chasing is a technique implemented by a bistatic or multistatic radar system that allows rapid and efficient search of a desired volume of space whereby the receiving antenna is made to follow or “chase” the transmitted pulse as it travels radially outward from the transmitter antenna. An expression for receiver antenna scan rate requirements is derived that corrects an error in the prior literature. The results give significantly reduced scan rates in the forward scatter region near the baseline showing that pulse chasing is more easily implemented using conventional analog beamformer phased array technology than was suggested by prior work     

An exact expression for resolution cell area in special case ofbistatic radar systems

An exact expression for the bistatic resolution-cell area (A _B) is developed for the special case in which either the transmit or receive antenna has a broad azimuth beamwidth or is omnidirectional. Quantitative examples are presented to illustrate the variation of A_B with location. A comparison is made with the performance of a commonly used approximation formula     

Optimal radar threshold determination in Weibull clutter andGaussian noise

A technique is presented for determining the ideal detection threshold when Gaussian noise and Weibull distributed clutter returns are present on a radar receiver and neither is dominant. Quantitative data is presented for several clutter types and false alarm probabilities     

Bacterial community in ancient Siberian permafrost as characterized by culture and culture-independent methods

The microbial composition of ancient permafrost sediments from the Kolyma lowland of Northeast Eurasia was examined through culture and culture-independent approaches. These sediments have been continuously frozen for 5,000 to 2-3 million years. A total of 265 Bacteria 16S rRNA gene sequences were amplified from the permafrost total-community genomic DNA and screened by amplified ribosomal 16S rRNA restriction analysis. Members of three major lineages were found: gamma-Proteobacteria (mostly Xanthomonadaceae), Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. We also determined partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of 49 isolates from a collection of 462 aerobes isolated from these sediments. The bacteria included Actinomycetales (Arthrobacter and Microbacteriaceae); followed by the Firmicutes (Exiguobacterium and Planomicrobium); the Bacteroidetes (Flavobacterium); the gamma-Proteobacteria (Psychrobacter); and the alpha-Proteobacteria (Sphingomonas). Both culture and culture-independent approaches showed the presence of high and low G+C Gram-positive bacteria and gamma-Proteobacteria. Some of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of environmental clones matched those of Arthrobacter isolates. Two-thirds of the isolates grew at -2.5 degrees C, indicating that they are psychroactive, and all are closely related to phylogenetic groups with strains from other cold environments, mostly commonly from Antarctica. The culturable and non-culturable microorganisms found in the terrestrial permafrost provide a prototype for possible life on the cryogenic planets of the Solar System.     

Comments on "Receiver antenna scan rate requirements needed to implement pulse chasing in a bistatic radar receiver"

For original paper see D.S.Purdy, ibid., vol.37, no.1, pp.285-7 (2001). It is shown that by selecting a different time variable, the approximations the author claims to be in error are indeed accurate. A reply by D.S.Purdy to these comments is included.     

Attitudes of UK and Australian farmers towards monitoring activity with satellite technologies: Lessons to be learnt

Governments are increasingly using satellite technologies to check for compliance with legislation, e.g. to verify that farmers are complying with environmental legislation on vegetation clearance in Australian states. As the detail of what can be seen by satellite technologies continues to improve and they are likely to become ever more attractive to those monitoring compliance with numerous different laws, it is important to consider the attitudes of those groups currently being monitored this way. Two surveys, the first of their kind internationally, were undertaken in the UK and Australia to assess attitudes in regulated communities (here farmers) where satellite monitoring was already being used. The aim was to understand attitudes to this method of monitoring, including its perceived benefits and drawbacks. Many of the farmers surveyed were either positive, or ambivalent, about satellite monitoring taking place. Only about a quarter of Australian farmers and a third of UK farmers were against being monitored this way. Large numbers actually wanted satellite monitoring to be used as a method of checking compliance, although if something was detected by a satellite many wanted any subsequent investigation to be done on the ground by humans. There were high levels of support for the use of satellite technologies because these were seen to be fairer, and more equitable than conventional methods, but concerns over how satellite monitoring might affect privacy and the technology not being used properly, or producing inaccurate results were expressed. Communication between regulator and regulated should be encouraged wherever possible, because many of the concerns of farmers and other potential regulated groups might be reduced if more information was given to them.     

Analog clutter cancellation algorithms for dynamic range reduction

A technique that effectively reduces the dynamic range of the input signal in a radar receiver prior to digitization is presented. The dynamic range reduction is accomplished through a process that predicts the next radar return signal from the previous return signals, generates a replica waveform, and subtracts this replica waveform from the radar return signal prior to digitization. This process allows the radar return signal to be digitized without distortion by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a limited dynamic range. The full dynamic range of the radar return signal is then restored by adding the replica waveform to the ADC output. Test and evaluation results using both synthetic and recorded radar data demonstrate in excess of a 30-dB reduction in the dynamic range of the signal at the ADC input when strong clutter is present     

Optimal Integration Time for Signals Having Uncompensated Quadratic Phase Components

The integration time which maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for uncompensated processing of a pulse having a quadratic phase component is derived.     

FIREFINDER: Position Analysis System Advanced Development Model

The FIREFINDER Position Analysis System, FFPAS, provides FIREFINDER siting and operating personnel with a powerful tool. By automating the site selection and radar set-up processes, the FFPAS will significantly reduce the time and effort required to deploy FIREFINDER radars. Also, many radar effects that are difficult to include when calculations are performed manually, such as blind ranges and Doppler frequencies, variations in the target's radar cross sectional area (RCS), and the strength of the clutter return along a trajectory, can now be included in the radar siting and operational analyses. These capabilities will help the Army's FIREFINDER radars perform with maximum effectiveness on the modern battlefield