Direction of arrival estimation using array of antennas for low-altitude targets in multi-path environment

The multi-path phenomenon can degrade the direction estimation of arrival in radar systems. Without considering this phenomenon, it is possible to consider the multi-path signal in place of the true signal. In this study, a practical model is developed for radar signals received in flat areas such as deserts. After the modelling process including the presentation of received signals and their formulation, the authors suggest the maximum likelihood (ML) decision to estimate the elevation angle of the targets. Afterwards, by considering the relevant issues, they promote the ML method over the maximum a posteriori decision and the windowing decision. This model and its estimation are very useful in practical applications, particularly in low peak power and low probability of intercept radars.

[1]  Wenxian Yu,et al.  Advanced digital beamforming technique for target height finding in phased array 3D radar systems , 2013, 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology.

[2]  Bhaskar D. Rao,et al.  Effect of spatial smoothing on the performance of MUSIC and the minimum-norm method , 1990 .

[3]  W.D. White,et al.  Low-Angle Radar Tracking in the Presence of Multipath , 1974, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[4]  D. K. Barton Low-angle radar tracking , 1974 .

[5]  Eli Brookner Phased arrays for the new millennium , 2000, Proceedings 2000 IEEE International Conference on Phased Array Systems and Technology (Cat. No.00TH8510).

[6]  Joohwan Chun,et al.  Low angle tracking using iterative multipath cancellation in sea surface environment , 2010, 2010 IEEE Radar Conference.

[7]  Thomas Kailath,et al.  On spatial smoothing for direction-of-arrival estimation of coherent signals , 1985, IEEE Trans. Acoust. Speech Signal Process..

[8]  Kazufumi Hirata,et al.  Altitude estimation of low elevation target over the sea for surface based phased array radar , 2010, 2010 IEEE Radar Conference.

[9]  J. Litva,et al.  Use of a highly deterministic multipath signal model in low-angle tracking , 1991 .

[10]  James E. Evans,et al.  Application of Advanced Signal Processing Techniques to Angle of Arrival Estimation in ATC Navigation and Surveillance Systems , 1982 .

[11]  Wenxian Yu,et al.  Target height finding in narrowband ground-based 3D surveillance radar using beamspace approach , 2009, 2009 IEEE Radar Conference.

[12]  Eloi Bosse,et al.  Improved radar tracking using a multipath model: maximum likelihood compared with eigenvector analysis , 1994 .

[13]  Hao Zhang,et al.  Hybrid Method of DOA Estimation for Low-Angle Target Tracking , 2010, 2010 International Conference on Electrical and Control Engineering.

[14]  Eloi Bosse,et al.  Tracking Swerling fluctuating targets at low altitude over the sea , 1991 .

[15]  R. O. Schmidt,et al.  Multiple emitter location and signal Parameter estimation , 1986 .

[16]  Jianqi Wu,et al.  Novel height finding technique based on spatial filtering in VHF radar , 2015, 2015 16th International Radar Symposium (IRS).

[17]  Eloi Bosse,et al.  Low-Angle Tracking in the Presence of Ducting, Coherent and Incoherent Multipath. , 1994 .

[18]  D. Giuli,et al.  A Modified Monopulse Technique for Radar Tracking with Low-Angle Multipath , 1975, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[19]  Wenxian Yu,et al.  Design considerations for DBF phased array 3D surveillance radar , 2011, Proceedings of 2011 IEEE CIE International Conference on Radar.

[20]  Bin Rao,et al.  Elevation finding algorithm in beam domain under multi-path environments for VHF radar , 2013 .

[21]  A.V. Mrstik,et al.  Multipath Limitations on Low-Angle Radar Tracking , 1978, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[22]  Mohammad Mahdi Nayebi,et al.  Robust low-angle estimation by an array radar , 2010 .

[23]  S. M. Sherman,et al.  Complex Indicated Angles Applied to Unresolved Radar Targets and Multipath , 1971, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[24]  Eloi Bosse,et al.  Model-based multifrequency array signal processing for low-angle tracking , 1995 .

[25]  Ruilian Xie,et al.  Low angle estimation in MIMO radar , 2010 .

[26]  Guangming Shi,et al.  Altitude Measurement of Low Elevation Target Based on Iterative Subspace Projection , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[27]  Simon Haykin,et al.  Performance evaluation of the modified FBLP method for angle of arrival estimation using real radar multipath data , 1985 .