SBIR-STTR Award

Measured wideband radar signatures can be colored by effects due to the radar sensor architecture and parameters. These sensor effects can cause differences within a signature database and a consequent degradation in performance of a radar-based non-cooperative target recognition (NCTR) system. A research program is proposed to identify, document, and mathematically model the radar phenomenology effects in wideband high range resolution (HRR)signatures obtained by a linear frequency modulated (LFM) radar. The feasibility of using such models to create a computer workstation tool for evaluating the radar phenomenology effects of different radar architecture and parameter choices will be demonstrated. This tool will be useful to radar designers, and NCTR database managers. Selected examples of wideband radar phenomenology effects will be illustrated using field data from an LFM HRR ground-to-air measurement system.

Keywords:
Sensor Effects, Hrr, Lfm Radar, Radar Signatures, Modeling, Radar Architecture, Radar Target Phenomenology, Nctr

Cyberdynamics Incorporated is proposing to develop a radar Signature Comparison Workstation based on signature comparison technology developed and demonstrated in our Phase I research. This workstation is intended for use in training radar engineers in high range resolution (HRR) signature technology, and in assisting engineers in HRR radar sensor design, in signature database development, in signature phenomenology investigations, and in identification algorithm design and performance evaluation. This workstation consists of radar simulation, signal processing, signature comparison, and signature comparison analysis software modules linked to databases of simulated, synthetic, and measured linear FM radar video data, processed range profile signatures, and signature comparison metric results, all under the control of an intuitive graphical user interface. The workstation is designed to operate with inputs of simulated, synthetic, or measured radar video data. Several novel signature comparison techniques are implemented in the workstation that allow templates to be constructed based on signature similarity.

Keywords:
Radar Signature Comparison, Aircraft Target Identification, High Range Resolution, Radar Signal Processing, Sensor Effects, Linear Fm Radar, Computer