Application of the Hough transform as a track-before-detect method

Track-before-detect methods integrate signal returns over several scans to detect targets. The Hough transform has been applied to the tracking of targets and provides a means of integrating the returns from moving targets. To detect small targets, low detection thresholds are used in the signal processor, resulting in a high false alarm rate making the track initiation problem more difficult. This paper examines the application of the Hough Transform as a track-before-detect method. The time to detect targets, track detection probabilities, and false track rates are derived. (3 pages)