An efficient multi-target track-before-detect algorithm for low PRF surveillance radars

Abstract

In this paper, we address the problem of simultaneously detecting and tracking multiple targets using dynamic programming (DP) based track-before-detect (DP-TBD) with reference to low pulse repetition frequency (PRF) surveillance radars. The Doppler ambiguity phenomenon in the low PRF radars is the primary cause which complicates the tracking process. In the range-apparent Doppler plane, target states with different velocities may correspond to the same measurement, thus multiple modes are formed in the posterior density, resulting in a more challenging estimation problem. In this work, we propose an efficient multi-target DP-TBD algorithm suitable for low PRF surveillance radars. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively repress the ghost trajectories due to the multi-modality of posterior density and correctly estimate the true target states and target number.

Multi‐frame track‐before‐detect algorithm for disambiguation

“…Multi‐frame track‐before‐detect (MF‐TBD) [7–11] shows superior performance in dim targets tracking, it accumulates target energy through the feasible path (integration between scans) so as to increase the possibility of being detected. However, MF‐TBD is ineffective in multiple PRF radar system since the length of each measurement plane is irregular and the trajectory of the observed target may be discontinuous between different frames, accounting for unsuccessful energy integration of target.…”