Adaptive Detection and Estimation Using a Conformal Array Antenna

Radar;STAP;GMTI;Conformal;Array;Clutter;Ground clutter;Estimation;Detection

Hersey, Ryan Kenneth ; Electrical and Computer Engineering

University:Georgia Institute of Technology

Department:Electrical and Computer Engineering

关键词: Radar;    STAP;    GMTI;    Conformal;    Array;    Clutter;    Ground clutter;    Estimation;    Detection;   

Others  :  https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/1853/4921/1/hersey_ryan_k_200412_phd.pdf

美国|英语

来源: SMARTech Repository

【 摘 要 】

Conformal arrays possess certain desirable characteristics for deployment on unmanned aerial vehicles and other payload-limited platforms:aerodynamic design, minimal payload weight, increased field of view, and ease of integration with diverse sensor functions.However, the conformal arrays nonplanar geometry causes high adaptive losses in conventional space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms.In this thesis, we develop a conformal array signal model and apply it to evaluate the performance of conventional STAP algorithms on simulated ground clutter data.We find that array-induced clutter nonstationarity leads to high adaptive losses, which greatly burden detection performance.To improve adaptive performance, we investigate the application of existing equivalent-linear-array transformations and develop novel deterministic and adaptive angle-Doppler compensation techniques, which align nonstationary clutter returns.Through the application of these techniques, we are able to nearly fully mitigate the nonstationary behavior yielding performance similar to that of a conventional planar array.Finally, we investigate the impact of array errors on the performance of conformal arrays, and propose several array calibration techniques as ameliorating solutions.