SBIR-STTR Award

Techniques are proposed for reducing the computational loading in digital beam forming radar (dbfr). these techniques involve reducing the dynamic range of the input signal by pre-processing before digitizing, then converting the signal to a polar coordinate representation to reduce processor loading for beam-steering and signal processing. dynamic range reduction techniques are examined with regard to radar data representation and effect on radar systems design and performance. radar performance is analyzed in the presence of noise, clutter and emi. signal processing structures for radar are examined in the context of the reduced data format and a processing architecture is illustrated.

Feasibility of reducing digital beamforming (dbf) radar hardware complexity has been shown in phase i. the proposed continuation of this program is to apply digital beamforming to the receiver subsystem of a bistatic radar concept. this bistatic concept uses a space based illuminator with receivers located on the ground, in ground vehicles or in fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft. this effort covers (1) space base radar systems requirement definition, (2) battlefield bistatic receiver and waveform design, (3) communication subsystem design, (4) definition of a test bed to investigate technical capability, utility, and, to demonstrate feasibility of space based bistatic radar