Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems in 1991"

SAR data focusing using seismic migration techniques

Abstract: The focusing of synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) data using migration techniques quite similar to those used in geophysics is treated. The algorithm presented works in the omega -k/sub x/ domain. Because time delays can be easily accommodated with phase shifts that increase linearly with omega , range migration poses no problem. The algorithm is described in plane geometry first, where range migration and phase history can be exactly matched. The effects of the sphericity of the Earth, of the Earth's rotation, and of the satellite trajectory curvature are taken into account, showing that the theoretically achievable spatial resolution is well within the requirements of present day and near future SAR missions. Terrestrial swaths as wide as 100 km can be focused simultaneously with no serious degradation. The algorithm has been tested with synthetic data, with Seasat-A data, and with airplane data (NASA-AIR). The experimental results fully support the theoretical analysis. >

Reconfigurable flight control via multiple model adaptive control methods

Abstract: An aircraft flight control system with reconfigurable capabilities is considered. A multiple model adaptive controller (MMAC) is shown to provide effective reconfigurability when subjected to single and double failures of sensors and/or actuators. A command generator tracker/proportional-plus-integral/Kalman filter (CGT/PI/KF) form of controller was chosen for each of the elemental controllers within the MMAC algorithm and each was designed via LQG synthesis to provide desirable vehicle behavior for a particular failure status of sensors and actuators. The MMAC performance is enhanced by an alternate computation of the MMAC hypothesis probabilities, use of maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) versus Bayesian form of the MAC (or a modified combination of both), and reduction of identification ambiguities through scalar residual monitoring for the case of sensor failures. >

Linear FM signal parameter estimation from discrete-time observations

Abstract: The authors consider the problem of estimating the parameters of a complex linear FM signal from a finite number of noisy discrete-time observations An estimation algorithm is proposed, and its asymptotic (large sample) performance is analyzed The algorithm is computationally simple, consisting of two fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) accompanied by one-dimensional searches for maxima The variance of the estimates is shown to be close to the Cramer-Rao lower bound when the signal-to-noise ratio is 0 dB and above The authors applied the algorithm to the problem of estimating the kinematic parameters of an accelerating target by pulse-Doppler radar A representative test case was used to exhibit the usefulness of the algorithm for this problem, and to verify the analytical results by Monte Carlo simulations >

Optimum multisensor fusion of correlated local decisions

Abstract: A distributed detection system consisting of a number of local detectors and a fusion center is considered. Each detector makes a decision for the underlying binary hypothesis testing problem based on its own observation and transmits its decision to the fusion center where the global decision is derived. The local decision rules are assumed to be given, but the local decisions are correlated. The correlation is generally characterized by a finite number of conditional probabilities. The optimum decision fusion rule in the Neyman-Pearson sense is derived and analyzed. The performance of the distributed detection system versus the degree of correlation between the local decisions is analyzed for a correlation structure that can be indexed by a single parameter. System performance as well as the performance advantage of using a larger number of local detectors degrade as the degree of correlation between local decisions increases. >

Variability of GPS satellite differential group delay biases

Abstract: An important issue in determining the accuracy of global positioning system (GPS) satellite ionospheric measurements is the instrumental delay biases between the L-band frequencies in both the satellites and the receivers. These differential L1-L2 biases must be measured and removed from the GPS measurements before an accurate estimate of the total electron content can be obtained. The results from the measurements indicate that the day-to-day variations of the satellite differential biases are quite well over a five-week time span, with a variation of less than 0.3-ns differential delay (one sigma). A follow-up experiment conducted two years later showed that the satellite biases had not changed significantly over this longer time span. When the prelaunch calibration values are compared with the experimental bias estimates, two of the four satellite pairs show excellent agreement and two differ significantly, indicating that prelaunch calibrations should be used with caution. >

A method for estimating parameters of K-distributed clutter

Abstract: A method for estimating the parameters of K-distributed clutter when the available sample size of the data is limited is proposed. In this method, the arithmetic mean and geometric mean of the given data are used to estimate the model parameters. Expressions characterizing the performance of the proposed estimator are presented, along with some simulation results. For spiky clutter, simulations show that parameter estimates obtained from the arithmetic and geometric mean are approximately equal to the numerically evaluated maximum-likelihood (ML) estimates. The method is also used to estimate the parameter of the Weibull density. >

Existence and uniqueness of GPS solutions

Abstract: The existence and uniqueness of positions computed from global positioning system (GPS) pseudorange measurements is studied. Contrary to the claims of S. Bancroft (1985) and L.O. Krause (1987), in the case of n=4 satellites a fix may not exist, and, if a fix exists, it is not guaranteed to be unique. In the case of n>or=5 satellites, a unique fix is assured, except in certain degenerate cases such as coplanar satellites. An alternate formulation of the direct n=4 pseudorange to three-space position solutions of Bancroft and Krause is presented, and simple tests for existence and uniqueness are derived. >

Radar target tracking-Viterbi versus IMM

Abstract: The performance of the Viterbi and the interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithms, applied to radar tracking and detection, are investigated and compared. Two different cases are considered. In the first case, target acceleration is identical to one of the system models while in the second case it is not. The performance of the algorithms depends monotonically on the maximal magnitude of the difference between models acceleration, on the time interval between measurements, and on the reciprocal of the measurements error standard deviation. In general, when these parameters are relatively large, both algorithms perform well. When they are relatively small, the Viterbi algorithm is better. However, during delay periods, namely right after the start of a maneuver, the IMM algorithm provides better estimations. >

Tracking a 3D maneuvering target with passive sensors

Abstract: A novel application of the interacting multiple models (IMM) algorithm in which passive infrared sensors are fused for tracking a target maneuvering in three dimensions is discussed. More accurate models of target motion are proposed to improve performance. When the general models are used to describe the maneuvering periods, it is shown that the IMM behaviour is not satisfactory, in that the innovations associated with the different models do not discriminate between the corresponding target maneuvering regimes. The turning of the Markov chain transition matrix, i.e., a priori information, is then crucial to obtaining the correct ordering of the a posteriori regime probabilities. On the contrary, a more satisfactory behavior of the IMM algorithm is obtained by carefully selecting the target motion models in the different regimes. >

Performances of order statistics CFAR

Abstract: A previous analysis of order-statistics constant-false-alarm-rate (OS-CFAR) radar receiving a single pulse from a Rayleigh fluctuating target in a Rayleigh background is extended to a Rayleigh-plus-dominant target. The analysis includes effects of a multitarget environment. A detailed comparison of OS-CFAR, cell-averaging (CA) CFAR, and censored CA-CFAR is provided for a Rayleigh target in the presence of strongly interfering targets. The false-alarm analysis of OS-CFAR is extended to the more general case of a Weibull background. The deterioration of the CFAR property of OS as the shape factor, C, of a Weibull probability density function changes from Rayleigh (C=2) to a longer-tailed one (C >

Estimation of 3D angular motion using gyroscopes and linear accelerometers

Abstract: The authors present a novel, real-time angular motion estimation technique using a linear Gaussian estimator, and the outputs of linear accelerometers and gyroscopes, to assess the actual angular velocity of a rigid body in three-dimensional (3D) space. The method obtains the covariances of the random actual 3D angular velocity, the angular velocity measurement, and the measurement noise from the time averages of the outputs of an array of nine linear accelerometers and the outputs of three orthogonal gyroscopes. These statistics are used by the estimator to calculate the angular velocity of the rigid body in 3D space. The multisensor technique performance is evaluated through a computer simulation. Results indicate that the method leads to more accurate angular velocity values than are obtained conventionally. >

Low sidelobe radar waveforms derived from orthogonal matrices

Abstract: Novel waveforms are described that have low sidelobes when individual or multiple waveforms are approximately processed. They are related to orthogonal matrices that may be associated with complementary sequences and also with periodic waveforms having autocorrelation functions with constant zero-amplitude sidelobes. Also described are sets of sequences whose cross-correlation functions sum to zero everywhere. A potential application is the elimination of ambiguous range stationary clutter. >

Decentralized linear estimation in correlated measurement noise

Abstract: Some results and perspectives are provided on the problem of optimally combining estimates from different sensors when the measurement noise processes are correlated. The authors consider only the static estimation problem and limit the discussion to fusion with two sensors. A necessary and sufficient condition for optimality of the decentralized estimator in the presence of correlated measurement noise processes is presented. The result ties together previously reported work, and yields additional insights. >

Accuracy of using point targets for SAR calibration

Abstract: The peak and integral methods for radiometric calibration of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) using reference point targets are analyzed. Both calibration methods are shown to be unbiased, but the peak method requires knowledge of the equivalent rectangle system resolution which is sensitive to system focus. Exact expressions for the RMS errors of both methods are derived. It is shown that the RMS error resulting from the peak method is always smaller than or equal to that from the integral method for a well-focused system. However, for robust radiometric calibration of SAR, or when nonlinear phase errors are present, the integral method is recommended, because it does not require detailed knowledge of the impulse response and the resulting RMS error is not dependent on system focus. >

High resolution exponential modeling of fully polarized radar returns

Abstract: A method for modeling full polarization radar target is considered. The approach taken is to estimate a set of target features which describes the target as a set of attributed scattering centers. Each scattering center is characterized by its range, amplitude, and a polarization ellipse. An exponential model for the fully polarized radar return is described, and an algorithm for estimating the parameters in this model is developed. The modeling procedure is applied to compact range measurements of model aircraft. >

Estimation of radar detection and false alarm probability

Abstract: The accuracy with which detection and false alarm probabilities can be estimated with a limited amount of measured radar data is addressed. A simple simulation method for estimating the statistical performance of a radar detection system is presented. Confidence limits and a rule of thumb for accuracy for the estimated probabilities are presented along with procedures for calculating them. It is concluded that the minimum value of N used in a detection radar signal simulation should be 10/P/sub FA/ when the simple simulation method is used, where P/sub FA/ is the probability of false alarm, and that a value closer to 100/P/sub FA/ is preferable. >

Streamlining measurement iteration for EKF target tracking

Abstract: The estimation problem is defined, and a review of how the linear estimation approach of Kalman filtering is extrapolated to form an extended Kalman filter (EKF), applicable for state estimation in nonlinear systems is presented. A mechanization of an EKF variation known as an iterated EKF, offering improved tracking performance, is treated. A streamlined version of an iterated EKF that has a lesser computational burden (fewer operations per cycle or time step) than prior formulations is offered. A nonlinear filtering application example, to be used as a testbed for this new approach, is described, and the detailed modeling considerations as needed for exoatmospheric random-variable radar target tracking are discussed. The performance of the streamlined mechanization is illustrated in this radar target tracking example, and comparisons are made with the performance of an EKF without measurement iteration. >

Monopulse tracking of Rayleigh targets: a simple approach

Abstract: A simple derivation of the probability distribution of the monopulse ratio is presented. The derivation is based upon a conditional distribution and considers both Rayleigh targets and simple non-Rayleigh cases. The mean is obtained almost without calculation. The variance expression is given completely general noise and glint interpretation. Analytical expressions for angle error mean and spread, including noise, target width, and unresolved targets, are presented as functions of antenna position, in simple and comprehensive diagrams. >

On adaptive multiband signal detection with GLR algorithm

Abstract: An adaptive multiband detector based on the principle of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLR) is presented. Its detection performance is studied and compared with that of the corresponding single-band GLR detector. The multiband detector is shown to significantly outperform the single-band under the chosen system constraint, especially when the amount of data available from a single frequency band is severely limited by the environment. >

A modified adaptive Kalman filter for real-time applications

Abstract: A modified adaptive Kalman filtering algorithm is derived for the standard linear problem under an irregular environment where all variances of the zero-mean Gaussian white (system and observation) noises are unknown a priori. This algorithm has certain merits over various existing adaptive schemes in that it is simple, efficient, and suitable for real-time applications. An illustrative numerical example is presented. >

Radar target identification of aircraft using polarization-diverse features

Abstract: The characteristics and target identification potential of a representation of the information from two polarization-diverse measurements of the radar backscatter of an unknown target are considered. The locus of these two polarization-diverse waveforms, termed the transient polarization response (TPR), has been shown to be closely related to the geometry of the scattering centers of the target. The polarization-related components of features derived from the TPR concur well with the shape and orientation of the major scattering centers distributed in the downrange profile of the object. This illustrates the intuitively appealing result that the polarization of the backscatter, as represented by the TPR and mapped onto the modified polarization chart, is determined by target geometry. It is shown that both polarization-related and amplitude-related features derived from the TPR are useful for target identification. By using distance measures that depend on various components, the elliptical parametrization information alone is sufficient to allow satisfactory target identification at SNRs of 0 dB and above. The significance of this result is that the absolute amplitudes of the received horizontally polarized and vertically polarized channels need not be known. However, if amplitude information is known, target identification percentages improve. >

Tracking Swerling fluctuating targets at low altitude over the sea

Abstract: Accurate tracking of targets flying at low altitudes above a smooth surface is difficult because of the surface reflection. The authors propose a solution based on deterministic physical modeling of the specular multipath and the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The techniques are described, the Cramer-Rao (CR) bounds derived, and the results of performance studies presented including comparison with classical Fourier beamforming. Experimental results obtained with two X-band experimental systems over sea conditions varying from sea state zero to sea state three are presented. >

Ambiguity properties of quadratic congruential coding

Abstract: The ambiguity characteristics of multiple access frequency hop codes based on standard quadratic congruences are investigated in the light of results obtained for codes based on Costas arrays and extended quadratic congruences. While the autoambiguity properties are found to be very similar to those of Costa codes, i.e. nearly ideal, the cross-ambiguity properties of quadratic congruential codes are much better. These results are valid across the whole class of code sets considered, but they are obtained at some expense in the pulse compression characteristics of the codes. A uniform upper bound is placed on the entire cross-ambiguity function surface, and bounds are placed on the amplitude of spurious peaks in the autoambiguity function. These bounds depend on the time-bandwidth product and code length exclusively and lead naturally to a discussion of the design tradeoffs for these two parameters. Examples of typical autoambiguity and cross-ambiguity functions are given to illustrate the performance of quadratic congruential coding with respect to Costas coding. >

Diffusion analysis of track loss in clutter

Abstract: In tracking a target through clutter, the selection of incorrect measurements for track updating causes track divergence and eventual loss of track. The plot-to-track association algorithm is modeled as a Markov process and the tracking error is modeled as a diffusion process in order to study the mechanism of track loss analytically, without recourse to Monte Carlo simulations, for nearest-neighbor association in two space dimensions. The time evolution of the error distribution is examined, and the connection of the approach with diffusion theory is discussed. Explicit results showing the dependence of various performance parameters, such as mean time to lose track and track half-life, on the clutter spatial density are presented. The results indicate the existence of a critical density region in which the tracking performance degrades rapidly with increasing clutter density. An optimal gain adaptation procedure that significantly improves the tracking performance in the critical region is proposed. >

A localized adaptive MTD processor

Abstract: The problem of achieving the optimum moving target indicator (MTI) detection performance in strong clutter of unknown spectrum when the set of data available to the estimation of clutter statistics is small due to a severely nonhomogeneous environment is studied. A new adaptive implementation, called the Doppler domain localized generalized likelihood ratio processor (DDL-GLR), is proposed, and its detection performance is studied in detail. It is shown that the DDL-GLR is a data-efficient implementation of the high-order optimum detector and has several advantages of practical importance over the adaptive processors. >

The hit array: an analysis formalism for multiple access frequency hop coding

Abstract: A formalism is presented for the analysis of general frequency hop waveforms, such as those suitable for use in coherent active radar and sonar echolocation systems as well as multiple-access spread-spectrum communications. This formalism is based on the concept of coincidence, or 'hit', between two frequency hopping patterns. The collection of all possible hits, together with their locations, is recorded in time-frequency space, which produces the high array associated with the two patterns considered. If the code length is sufficiently small with respect to the time-bandwidth product chosen, the hit array can be viewed as a digital representation of the corresponding ambiguity function. Salient properties of the hit array formalism are derived, including simple relationships between hit arrays resulting from basic symmetry-preserving transformations. These properties make it possible to predict the performance of a given set of frequency hop waveforms directly from the associated set of frequency hopping patterns. >

A model for spatially correlated radar clutter

Abstract: On the basis of empirical evidence, a model for spatially correlated radar clutter is developed. In this model, echo amplitudes from two different resolution cells are described statistically by the correlated K-distribution. Explicit expressions for the joint probability density function and joint members of this distribution are developed. The problem of minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) clutter estimation, where the clutter level in a given resolution cell is estimated from the clutter level in a different cell by minimizing the MSE, is addressed. The effects of spatial correlation and resolution cell size on the overall characteristics of echo are considered. Results show that clutter in this class may be characterized by a family of K-distributions whose parameters are determined by the resolution cell area and the spatial autocorrelation function. These results are in agreement with reported measurements. >

Adaptive cell-averaging CFAR detection in distributed sensor networks

Abstract: The problem of adaptive cell-averaging constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) detection is considered for two distributed sensor network topologies, namely the parallel and the tandem topologies. The compressed data transmitted amongst the detectors is assumed to be in the form of decisions. The overall systems are optimized to yield the maximum probability of detection for a fixed probability of false alarm. The performance of the systems is also analyzed. >

Performance comparisons of modified SMI and GLR algorithms

Abstract: Adaptive filtering for signal detection in colored interference of unknown statistics is addressed. The detection performance of a modified version of the well-known sample matrix inversion (SMI) algorithm, called the modified SMI (MSMI), is compared with that of the generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) algorithm in colored Gaussian interference. The performance sensitivity of the MSMI and GLR in colored Weibull and log-normal interference is studied via simulation. It is found that there is almost no need to use the more complicated GLR algorithm in Gaussian interference, while in Weibull or log-normal interference the GLR should be preferable to the MSMI. >