Date of Award

3-14-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Julie A. Jackson, PhD.

Abstract

ATR requires detecting and estimating distinguishing characteristics of a target of interest. Radar data provides range and amplitude information; range distinguishes location relative to the radar whereas amplitude determines strength of reflectivity. Strong reflecting scattering features of targets are detected from a combination of radar returns, or radar PH data. Strong scatterers are modeled as canonical shapes (a plate, dihedral, trihedral, sphere, cylinder, or top-hat). Modeling the scatterers as canonical shapes takes the high dimensional radar PH from each scatterer and parameterizes the scatterer according to its location, size, and orientation. This thesis e ciently estimates the parameters of canonical shapes from radar PH data using dictionary search. Target scattering peaks are detected using 2-D SAR imaging. The parameters are estimated with decreased computation and improved accuracy relative to previous algorithms through reduced SAR image processing, informed parameter subspace bounding, and more e cient dictionary clustering. The effects of the collection fight path and radar parameters are investigated to permit pre-collection error analysis. The results show that even for a limited collection geometry, the dictionary estimates the canonical shape scatterer parameters well.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENG-14-M-21

DTIC Accession Number

ADA598650

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