Moving target indication

About: Moving target indication is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2653 publications have been published within this topic receiving 32435 citations.

Statistical analysis of monopulse-synthetic aperture radar for constant false-alarm rate detection of ground moving targets

Abstract: An efficient approach to achieve ground moving target indication (GMTI) for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is to use the monopulse-SAR system. In this kind of SAR system, moving targets are detected over a so called, called monopulse ratio diagram (MRD) generated by a pixel-to-pixel comparison between the two SAR images acquired from the sum and difference channels. The sample derived from this diagram for the pixel under test (PUT), i.e. the value of monopulse ratio (MR), is employed as the test statistic. This paper examines the statistics of MR when complex Gaussian clutter-plus-noise background in considered. The conditional probability density function (pdf) of MR, given the occurrence that the amplitude of the sum signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, is analysed in detail. Especially, the conditional likelihood function of MR under the null hypothesis is given in a closed-form. Based on these results, an automatic constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) detector for moving target detection (MTD) is proposed and extended to a so called multi-MRD form to further improve the final detection performance. Simulations, as well as experimental results obtained from two groups of real dataset, are presented to examine the detection performance and validate the theoretical analysis.

A performance evaluation of autoregressive clutter mitigation methods for over-the-horizon radar

Abstract: Wide-area surveillance over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) requires minimizing the dwell time in each search region without compromising Doppler resolution of targets from clutter. Low-order autoregressive (AR) modeling of the clutter spectrum has been proposed to unmask targets from clutter using shorter coherent integration times (CITs). We compare the performance of three methods using AR parameters to maximize signal-to-clutter-to-noise ratio (SCNR) with shorter CITs. In particular, we consider AR-based data extrapolation (DATEX), minimum variance clutter pre-whitening (MV-CPW), and a method called HOPPLER, which consists of pre-whitening, conventional Doppler processing, and re-insertion of the clutter spectrum. We compare the methods using real data from a mid-latitude OTHR with a target beacon embedded in sea-clutter.

A novel multiple target tracking system for UAV platforms

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce Genex's innovative multiple target tracking system (i.e. SmartMTI algorithm and our miniature DSP/FPGA data processing hardware). SmartMTI is designed for intelligent surveillance on moving platforms such as UAVs (unmmaned Aerial Vehicle), UGV (unmanned ground vehicle), and manned moving platforms. It uses our state-machine MTI framework to seamlessly integrate our state-of-the-art motion detection and target tracking methods to create multiple target following and inter-object 'awareness', thus allowing the system to robustly handle difficult situations such as targets under merging, occlusion, and disappearing conditions. Preliminary tests show that, once implemented on our miniaturized DSP/FPGA hardware, our system can detect and track multiple targets in real time with extremely low miss-detection rate. The SmartMTI design effort leverages Genex's expertise and experience in real-time surveillance system design for the Army's AMCOM's SCORPION or "Glide Bomb" program, NUWC's CERBERUS program, BMDO's missile seeker program, Air Force's UAV auto-navigation and surveillance program, and DARPA's Future Combat System (FCS) program.

Discrimination of human targets for radar surveillance via micro-Doppler characteristics

Abstract: An approach is examined for reducing false alarms during detection of human targets via radar surveillance from moving platforms. The ability to distinguish between human target and clutter discrete micro-Doppler signatures is quantified using simulated and real data collected using the DORC X-band wideband experimental airborne radar. Signal processing methodologies to extract key target signature characteristics are discussed along with separability of target classes and classifier performance.

High-speed ground moving target detection research using triangular modulation FMCW

Abstract: The frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar has the characteristics of low probability of interception, good hidden property and the ability to counter anti-radiation missiles. This paper proposes a new method for high-speed ground moving target detection (GMTD) using triangular modulation FMCW. According to the characteristic of the opposite range shift induced by the upslope and downslope modulation FMCW, the upslope and downslope are imaged, respectively. After compensation of continuous motion of the platform and time difference between upslope and downslope signals for imaging, the moving target can be detected through displaced phase center antenna (DPCA) technology. When the moving target is detected, the moving target image is extracted, and correlation processing is used to obtain the range shift, which can be used to estimate the target radial velocity, and further to find the real position of the target. The effectiveness of this method is verified by the result of computer simulation.