Radar Database Portability and Hybridization

Measured radar data outputs behave differently depending upon the collection system. This makes comparison of competing hardware systems difficult. This research will develop a generic radar model that will incorporate representative linear and nonlinear components and determine the effect of these components on the output signal. This model will enable the radar acquisition community to evaluate competing designs more objectively. It will also identify the component or components that produce the most significant effects on the radar output data. The work will also incorporate ideas from information theory and signal processing to improve the target identification capability. BENEFIT: This work has direct implications on the use of electromagnetic energy as an interrogating signal in all areas of non-destructive evaluation. Most media have some nonlinear behavior, and the modeling techniques presented here will be used in this area to better understand the effects of intervening materials on the measurement of an object. Other applications in medical diagnostics are also anticipated.