Real-Time Software Architecture for EM-Based Radar Signal Processing and Tracking

Abstract

While a radar tracks the kinematic state (position, velocity, and acceleration) of the target, an optimal signal processing requires knowledge of the target's range rate and radial acceleration that are derived from the tracking function in real time. High precision tracks are achieved through precise range and angle measurements whose precision are determined by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal. The SNR is maximized by minimizing the matched filter loss due to uncertainties in the radial velocity and acceleration of the target. In this paper, the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed as an iterative signal processing scheme for maximizing the SNR by executing enhanced range walk compensation i.e., correction for errors in the radial velocity and acceleration) in the real-time control loop software architecture. Maintaining a stringent timeline and adhering to latency requirements are essential for real-time sensor signal processing. This research aims to examine existing methods and explore new approaches and technologies to mitigate the harmful effects of range walk in tracking radar systems with an EM-Based iterative algorithm and implement the new control loop steering methods in a real-time computing environment.