Nonlinear modeling of gated range tracker dynamics with application to radar range resolution

Abstract

Nonllnear dynamlc models for gated radar range trackers are developed and applled to the range resolutlon problem.Two common types of tracklng loop dynamics, as well as the automatlc galn control (AGC), are accounted for In t h e models. The null detector Is formulated In a general way that encompasses many Important error detector laws, Including centrold and leading-edge. For a determlnlstlc target return condltlon, general crlterla for asymptotlc stablllty of equlllbrium polnts are obtalned. The most strlklng of the stablllty crlterla Is a sign requirement on the slope of a "range error curve." These crlterla are used In a two-target exaniple to draw concluslons on a tracker's ablllty t o resolve closely spaced targets as a functlon of target separatlon. These conclusions are compared with prevlously reported concluqlons on resolvablllty obtained uslng Woodward's "amblgulty function" approach.