A novel RHT-TBD approach for weak targets in HPRF radar

A novel approach, which can handle ambiguous data from weak targets, is proposed within the randomized Hough transform track-before-detect (RHT-TBD) framework. The main idea is that, without the pre-detection and ambiguity resolution step at each time step, the ambiguous measurements are mapped by the multiple hypothesis ranging (MHR) procedure. In this way, all the information, based on the relativity in time and pulse repetition frequency (PRF) domains, can be gathered among different PRFs and integrated over time via a batch procedure. The final step is to perform the RHT with all the extended measurements, and the ambiguous data is unfolded while the detection decision is confirmed at the end of the processing chain. Unlike classic methods, the new approach resolves the problem of range ambiguity and detects the true track for targets. Finally, its application is illustrated to analyze and compare the performance between the proposed approach and the existing approach. Simulation results exhibit the effectiveness of this approach.创新点本文把检测前跟踪(TBD)的思想引入到高脉冲重复频率(PRF)雷达微弱目标检测跟踪中, 对于单个时刻点的量测, 既不进行目标检测也不解距离模糊, 而是通过多假设处理提取量测的时空相关信息, 然后基于目标真实航迹在时空上的连续性和不同 PRF 量测之间的相关性, 通过 RHT-TBD 方法得到目标航迹, 同时实现解距离模糊;与同类研究相比, 该方法将微弱目标检测和解模糊问题都统一到目标真实航迹的确认过程中, 避免了低信噪比造成的航迹漏检, 为实现高 PRF 雷达微弱目标的检测跟踪提供了一种新的思路。