Weak Target Detection Method of Passive Bistatic Radar Based on Probability Histogram

Panhe Hu,Zengping Chen,Qinglong Bao

doi:10.1155/2018/8243686

Abstract

Passive bistatic radar (PBR) has attracted widespread attention for its capabilities in dealing with the threat of electronic countermeasure, stealth technology, and antiradiation missile. However, passive detection methods are limited by unknown characteristics of the uncooperative illuminators, and conventional radar signal processing algorithms cannot be conducted accurately, especially when the carrier frequency of the transmitting signal is agile and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the scattered wave of target is low. To address the above problems, this paper presents a novel weak target detection method based on probability histogram, which is then tested by a field experiment. Preliminary results indicate the feasibility of the proposed method in weak target detection.

Highlights

In recent years, passive bistatic radar (PBR) has become an emerging technology owing to its covert detection and lower cost compared to active radar systems
To address the above problems, this paper presents a novel weak target detection method based on probability histogram, which is tested by a field experiment
Passive bistatic radar (PBR) has become an emerging technology owing to its covert detection and lower cost compared to active radar systems

Summary

Introduction

Passive bistatic radar (PBR) has become an emerging technology owing to its covert detection and lower cost compared to active radar systems. Many kinds of illuminators are exploited as transmitter, such as FM radio[1,2,3], television[4], satellites[5, 6], cellular phone downlink[7, 8], WIFI[9, 10], digital video broadcasting, and digital audio broadcasting[11,12,13]. The use of frequency agile phased array radar as transmitter can extend the range of available illuminators of opportunity, while it poses many challenges in PBR signal processing. A novel weak target detection method based on probability histogram is proposed for PBR to detect target in low SNR, in which a frequency agile phased array radar is utilized as the uncooperative transmitter. The experimental results verify the excellent performance of the proposed method in weak target detection

Problem Statement

Signal Processing Method

Results and Discussion

Horizontal

Conclusions