To develop novel paradigms for Distributed MIMO Radar Systems (DMRS). Links to WP1 & WP2 through anomalies; WP3 through exploiting sparsity and WP5 for decentralised processing. Advanced signal processing methods for active/passive DMRS will be investigated. The approaches aim to improve performance, reduce system requirements with the result of producing a set of algorithms suitable for robust applications in a cluttered networked battlespace.
L_WP4.1 DMRS: waveform design, application of compressed sensing, passive systems
Inspired by major benefits gained from MIMO communications, coherent and incoherent DMRS will allow dramatic increase in detection, tracking and classification performance only if an optimal set of signal processing techniques are applied. This work package will deal with the design of the DMRS that will include the tnalysis of alternative waveform designs for DMRS. Novel waveform design approaches such as the FrFT and Fractional Cosine Transform based orthogonal chirp division multiplexing will also be investigated. The work will include a study of sparse signal representations in the DMRS. The work will use the fact that targets of interest in the DMRS will possess a sparse representation in the appropriate domain. Compressed sensing techniques will be investigated for reduction of (i) bandwidth requirements, (ii) processing requirements, (iii) memory storage requirements, and for performance improvements. The workpackage will conduct an evaluation of passive systems to increase the covertness and reduce costs. Possible illuminators of opportunities (DVB-T, Wi-fi, Wi-Max, GNSS. etc) will be investigated for the realization of a passive distributed radar system for cheap and covert border control applications.
L_WP4.2 DMRS: anti-clutter/jamming, information fusion, advanced ATR systems
It is known that MIMO radar system offer enhanced anti-clutter and anti-jamming potentials, in addition the diversities added by the DMRS offer significant opportunities for enhanced automatic target recognition (ATR). Building on our background on bistatic radars and micro-Doppler we will derive new algorithms for multidimensional micro-Doppler signatures and target reflectivity profiles based ATR in DMRS. The workpackage will deal with different tasks that will include the development of novel signal processing methods for jamming and clutter mitigation in high cluttered and distributed environments. Analysis and formation of 3D profiles of targets that will exploit angular diversity for enhanced multimodal target features. The work will also include the development of an information fusion framework that will be exploited for target identification, classification and tracking. The challenge of information sharing between the sensors and the associated decentralised processing will be considered throughout L_WP4 in collaboration with researchers in L_WP5.
Dr. Carmine Clemente on a novel coexistent radar communication system (Co-Radar) developed at the Sensor Signal Processing and Security Labs of the University of Strathclyde
The working principle allows information to be shared through the radar signal. The integration of the information to be transmitted with the radar waveform does not require additional frequency and power resources above those needed for the radar operation only. Useful information that the system could share regards its operational status (e.g. transmitted power, accurate positioning and synchronisation) as well as sensed data (e.g. compressed SAR images, target feature, range-Doppler maps, target's position and velocity). This technology is applicable in a wide range of airborne, spaceborn and ground based platforms.