Imaging and tracking of targets in clutter using differential time-reversal techniques

Abstract

Two time-reversal algorithms for identifying, imaging, and tracking moving targets in clutter are introduced. The first algorithm classifies existing scatterers into stationary versus moving targets. Multistatic data matrices (MDMs) corresponding to successive radar acquisitions (snapshots) of the scene are recorded. Singular value decomposition of the (time-)averaged MDM provides information on stationary targets, whereas singular value decomposition of the differential MDM provides information on moving targets. The second algorithm yields real-time selective tracking of each moving target by means of differential time-reversal. It requires minimal processing and memory resources, and exploits distinctive features of time-reversal such as statistical stability and super-resolution. Numerical simulations are used to illustrate the capabilities of the proposed algorithms in different scenarios involving clutter from discrete secondary scatterers and from inhomogeneous random medium backgrounds.