Reconfigurable monopulse radar tracking processor

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a reconfigurable Monopulse tracking system. The system proposes dual-pulse PRI scheme to reduce blind range while increasing the maximum range of the radar. The system can track multiple targets in Track-While-Scan (TWS) mode with angular accuracy of 0.1 degree. The system is implemented on a board containing two kintex-7 FPGAs and two TI DSPs (6713 & 6678). One FPGA acquires data and performs down sampling. The other FPGA performs Digital Down Conversion (DDC), Pulse Compression (PC), Moving Target Indication (MTI) and Moving Target Detection (MTD). The 6713 DSP then applies Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR), plot cohesion and amplitude comparison angle measurement algorithms to MTD processed data for targets detection and angular error calculation. Customized software is developed in Visual C (VC) for the system which performs data association, tracking, online parameters' configuration and display processing results. The system is tested in real-time using an Off-The-Shelf Radar Echo Simulator. The Echo Simulator generates sum & azimuth difference IF signals, which are processed by the proposed system and target tracks are displayed on the Plan Position Indicator (PPI).