Estimating target range-Doppler image slope for maneuver indication

Abstract

This paper presents a simple method of target maneuver indication (TMI) from high range resolution (HRR) radar measurements. The HRR TMI (HTMI) relates the slope of a target's range-Doppler image to the underlying turn rate when the target undergoes a turn maneuver. As an intermediate product of range profile formation process of an HRR radar, this approach provides an easy and quick indication of target maneuverability and, under favorable conditions, an estimate of such a maneuver (the turn rate and turn radius). The target maneuver indication can be incorporated into a target tracker to determine whether the target is decelerating or accelerating and to estimate the curvature of a turn so as to improve tracking accuracy. In this paper, we first formulate the target maneuver indicator from HRR radar measurements. Various methods for slope and slope rate estimation are then presented. The simulation environment is described together with the software tools used to generate target RF signatures. Simulation results are presented to show the operation and performance of the simple maneuver indicator for various encounter scenarios. Finally, the use of the HMTI method for maneuvering target tracking is discussed with performance metrics of timeliness, tracking sensitivity, and track accuracy as well as target identity confidence when HRR range profiles are also used for identification.

Post-update compensation (PUC) with maneuver indicator

“…However, when external information about an upcoming or ongoing maneuver is available, it can be used to reduce the undesired transient errors to minimum in magnitude or in duration or both. One simple maneuver indicator is the slope of a target's range-Doppler image [14] and its incorporation into a tracking filter is the post-update compensation (PUC) scheme presented in this paper. The paper also explained the causes for delaydominant and noise-dominant transient errors.…”

“…As shown in [14], the slope of a target's range-Doppler image provides an effective means to detect an ongoing maneuver and to estimate the maneuver parameters (e.g., turn rate and turn radius). However, the lack of resolution particularly in the Doppler axis due to short dwell limits the accuracy with which the maneuver parameters can be estimated.…”

“…Another example is to employ advanced signal processing techniques to extract data maneuver information from radar signals [5]. Indeed, the slope of a target's range-Doppler image [14,15] can be related to the underlying turn rate, and this information will be used in this paper as a simple maneuver indicator for maneuver onset and termination.…”

Target maneuver onset time estimation via significance test of acoustic feature difference

“…Feature-based maneuver detection techniques have been proposed in radar area using radar glint noise [7] and range-Doppler images [8]. In fact, radar target feature retains strong link with target motion mode.…”

Feature Aided Switching Model Set Approach for Maneuvering Target Tracking

“…Recently, a novel group of algorithms called feature aided target maneuver detection are proposed, and they are dependent on radar signatures. For instance, boresight error signal, echo amplitude fluctuations, and even two-dimensional range-Doppler images are utilized for maneuver detection [8][9][10]. The authors have proposed an effective algorithm based on the differences in high resolution Doppler profile (HRDP) [11].…”