Scale-space point spread function based framework to boost infrared target detection algorithms

Small target detection is one of the major concern in the development of infrared surveillance systems. Detection algorithms based on Gaussian target modeling have attracted most attention from researchers in this field. However, the lack of accurate target modeling limits the performance of this type of infrared small target detection algorithms. In this paper, signal to clutter ratio (SCR) improvement mechanism based on the matched filter is described in detail and effect of Point Spread Function (PSF) on the intensity and spatial distribution of the target pixels is clarified comprehensively. In the following, a new parametric model for small infrared targets is developed based on the PSF of imaging system which can be considered as a matched filter. Based on this model, a new framework to boost model-based infrared target detection algorithms is presented. In order to show the performance of this new framework, the proposed model is adopted in Laplacian scale-space algorithms which is a well-known algorithm in the small infrared target detection field. Simulation results show that the proposed framework has better detection performance in comparison with the Gaussian one and improves the overall performance of IRST system. By analyzing the performance of the proposed algorithm based on this new framework in a quantitative manner, this new framework shows at least 20% improvement in the output SCR values in comparison with Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) algorithm.     

扩展卡尔曼滤波和不敏卡尔曼滤波在实时雷达回波反演大气波导中的应用

为了改善雷达回波反演大气波导(RFC)方面存在的单时次、单方位角反演的问题,提出利用扩展卡尔曼滤波和不敏卡尔曼滤波的反演算法对大气波导结构的多方位角实时跟踪反演. 在卡尔曼滤波方法中分别给出大气波导结构的参数化方程、观测方程、滤波算法的状态转移方程,最后导出滤波反演算法的迭代求解流程. 在大气波导结构不随时间变化和随时间变化的两种条件下,对扩展卡尔曼滤波和不敏卡尔曼滤波算法进行数值实验. 实验结果表明,不敏卡尔曼滤波更适用于RFC这高度非线性反演问题,它可能今后为大气波导结构多方位角实时跟踪反演的业务化运行提供理论基础与技术保证. 关键词： 大气波导 雷达回波 扩展卡尔曼滤波 不敏卡尔曼滤波     

Suppression of Sea-Ice Clutter Observed by a Millimeter Wave Radar Using a New Log-Weibull/CFAR System

Sea-ice clutter was measured using a millimeter wave radar with frequency of 34.860GHz, beamwidth of 0.25° and pulse length of 30ns. To determine the sea-ice clutter amplitude statistics, we investigated the log-normal, Weibull, log-Weibull and K-distributions using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), which is more rigorous fit of the distribution to the data than the least-squares method. It is shown that the amplitude of sea-ice clutter obeys the log-Weibull distribution with shape parameters of 2.36 to 2.93 for both entire data and data within the beam width of an antenna. We propose a new log-Weibull/CFAR system uses a modified cell-averaging LOG/CFAR system. It is found that this log-Weibull/CFAR procedure is effective for suppression of sea-ice clutter and detection of target.     

Millimeter wave backscatter measurements in support of collision avoidance applications

Millimeter-wave short range radar systems have unique advantages in surface navigation applications, such as military vehicle mobility, aircraft landing assistance, and automotive collision avoidance. In collision avoidance applications, characterization of clutter due to terrain and roadside objects is necessary in order to maximize the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) and to minimize false alarms. The results of two types of radar cross section (RCS) measurements at 95 GHz are reported in this paper. The first set of measurements presents data on the normalized RCS (NRCS) as well as clutter distributions of various terrain types at low grazing angles of 5° and 7.5°. The second set of measurements presents RCS data and statistics on various types of roadside objects, such as metallic and wooden sign posts. These results are expected to be useful for designers of short-range millimeter-wave collision avoidance radar systems. Brett Snuttjer is presently an Air Force Lieutenant at Rome Laboratory, Rome, NY 13441     

Flaw-to-grain echo enhancement by split-spectrum processing

A split-spectrum processing technique for an ultrasonic flaw detection system has been developed which improves the flaw-to-grain echo ratio in large-grained materials. The enhancement is achieved by partitioning a wide-band received spectrum to obtain frequency shifted bands, which are then processed to suppress the grain echoes with respect to the flaw echo, using a novel signal minimization algorithm. Experimental data for titanium and stainless steel samples are presented which show superior flaw detection capabilities for the minimization algorithm with respect to frequency averaging techniques.     

Reflectivity of some materials at 94 GHz

In order to better understand the characteristics of discrete natural land clutter at millimeter wavelengths, an experimental investigation of the relative reflectivity of various materials at 94 GHz was performed using a substitution technique. The data show that nonconducting materials have a relative reflectivity on the order of 2–3%, and that absorbed water can increase the relative reflectivity significantly.     

大气波导条件下雷达海杂波功率仿真

考虑近海面大气折射率垂直梯度的变化, 采用曲面波频谱估计方法(CWSE)计算掠射角, 并结合修正的GIT海表反射率模型和雷达距离方程对大气波导条件下雷达海杂波功率进行仿真, 最后通过数值实验及与实测数据比较, 验证了CWSE方法的可行性. 关键词： 大气波导 雷达海杂波 曲面波频谱估计     

Polyhedra associated with identifying codes

The identifying code problem is a newly emerging search problem, challenging both from a theoretical and a computational point of view, even for special graphs like bipartite graphs. Hence, a typical line of attack for this problem is to determine minimum identifying codes of special graphs or to provide bounds for their size. In this work we study the associated polyhedra and present some general results on their combinatorial structure. We demonstrate how the polyhedral approach can be applied to find minimum identifying codes for special bipartite graphs, and discuss further lines of research in order to obtain strong lower bounds stemming from linear relaxations of the identifying code polyhedron, enhanced by suitable cutting planes to be used in a B&C framework.     

Passive Tracking of Multiple Underwater Targets in Incomplete Detection and Clutter Environment

A major advantage of the use of passive sonar in the tracking multiple underwater targets is that they can be kept covert, which reduces the risk of being attacked. However, the nonlinearity of the passive Doppler and bearing measurements, the range unobservability problem, and the complexity of data association between measurements and targets make the problem of underwater passive multiple target tracking challenging. To deal with these problems, the cardinalized probability hypothesis density (CPHD) recursion, which is based on Bayesian information theory, is developed to handle the data association uncertainty, and to acquire existing targets’ numbers and states (e.g., position and velocity). The key idea of the CPHD recursion is to simultaneously estimate the targets’ intensity and the probability distribution of the number of targets. The CPHD recursion is the first moment approximation of the Bayesian multiple targets filter, which avoids the data association procedure between the targets and measurements including clutter. The Bayesian-filter-based extended Kalman filter (EKF) is applied to deal with the nonlinear bearing and Doppler measurements. The experimental results show that the EKF-based CPHD recursion works well in the underwater passive multiple target tracking system in cluttered and noisy environments.