Advanced Waveform Design and Signal Processing

A novel signal/waveform model and signal processing algorithm suite that enhances radar systems performance, in the presence of noise and high clutter environments, and its associated discrimination capabilities is proposed. The algorithm allows for extraction of target information in range, azimuth and elevation angles while achieving very fine resolution and high accuracy. Target information at the output of the radar's signal processor is obtained by separating nonlinearities between time, azimuth and elevation angles, and target height. An antenna's field of view covered by the antenna beam is divided into a number of resolution cells each centered on a reference point. The analysis is for one resolution cell. The number of fine resolution cells leads to substantial reduction in clutter. Initial results, are shown to demonstrate at least an order of magnitude improvement in resolution with respect to classical radar processing. The new algorithm suite is independent of waveform design and will require, at most, only minimal changes to any current radar signal and data processing hardware or software.