N141-020 TITLE: Enhanced Small-Target Detection and Tracking Using a Mode-Adaptive Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) Detector

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 265

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OBJECTIVE: Develop adaptive Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) Detectors that support rapid mode interleaving under resource management control that allows simultaneous support for range dependent multi-resolution processing.

DESCRIPTION: Advancements in sensor resource management are needed that would utilize rapid mode interleaving on dynamic irregular time scales, capable of multi-resolution processing and data rate management. Current fielded radar systems offer only the most rudimentary resource management approaches to support detection and tracking. In a coherent radar system the dynamics of the target plays a critical part in determining if the target is detected against either a clutter or noise like background. Optimal detection of targets with different dynamics requires different Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) schemes and parameters. Optimal performance therefore requires utilizing variant CFAR’s in a hierarchal manner as well as making the threshold parameters of the CFARs adaptive. The CFAR processing must be capable of maintaining consistent performance across multiple waveform resolutions at the pulse repetition interval (PRI) level. In a maritime environment an objective of this approach is to provide small target detection and false alarm performance in sea-state four equal to that provided by conventional approaches in sea-state two or three. The desired deliverable is an adaptive real-time CFAR software application suitable for demonstration with a candidate Navy radar system.

PHASE I: Develop CFAR detector approaches capable of maintaining performance across multiple resolutions at the PRI level and demonstrate using realistic simulated littoral maritime data. The demonstration should show how the adaptive CFAR approach improves detection and false alarm performance in stressing high-density littoral environments within a constrained radar timeline.

PHASE II: Implement the algorithms developed in Phase I and demonstrate in a real-time environment. Demonstrate how the adaptive CFAR application can be integrated with a candidate Navy radar system.

PHASE III: Transition the developed technology to appropriate platforms/sensors.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Mode adaptive CFAR detectors can be utilized in a wide range of radar, optical and even communication systems with both civilian and military applications.

REFERENCES:
1. Weinberg, G.V. (2012). Suboptimal Coherent Radar Detection in a KK-Distributed Clutter Environment. International Scholarly Research Network, ISRN Signal Processing, Volume 2012, Article ID 614653, 8 pages

2. Rosenberg, L., Crisp, D.J., & Stacy, N.J. (2010). Analysis of the KK-distribution with medium grazing angle sea-clutter, IET Radar Sonar Navig., Vol. 4, Iss. 2, pp. 209–222

KEYWORDS: Radar; Clutter; small target detection; constant false alarm rate; resource managment; adaptive modes

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