MIMO Radar Clutter Modeling

ABSTRACT: We propose development of an efficient physics-based computational capability for simulation of complex MIMO radar clutter, with applicability to single- and multi-platform transmit-receive systems, which accounts accurately, on the basis of Maxwell's equations, for all relevant multi-path propagation and scattering effects. Our effort will enable simulation of scattering by realistic environmental clutter sources (arising from topography, vegetation, urban areas, etc.), for arbitrarily prescribed waveforms (thus enabling applicability to general radar systems), while accounting for multiple-scattering, complex targets (vehicles, missiles, etc.) and Doppler effects. The proposed work will thus enable, for the first time, simulation and optimization of the detection properties of MIMO radars in general configurations of vehicles and clutter scenes. BENEFIT: Our effort seeks to provide a software solution for users of simulation tools for which the limitations implicit in existing solvers represent a significant handicap. These include the military, (Navy, Air Force, and Army) as well as commercial concerns (air-framers, space research agencies, remote sensing and medical imaging developers, etc). Thus, there is a significant market for the proposed improved innovative solutions in high-tech industry, and in pursuing the present project MathSys Inc. seeks to cater to that need. Our connections with DoD and industrial scientists, as described below, form the basis of our overall commercialization strategy.