Christian Moscardini

Spatial Adaptive Processing for Passive Bistatic Radar

This paper presents work done on the application of Spatial Adaptive Processing (SAP) to Passive Bistatic Radar (PBR) systems. Specifically, the main goal is to analyse SAP performances in terms of interference spatial filtering and the estimation of the targets Direction of Arrival (DoA) when using PBR systems. Multiple solutions are provided and compared in order to identify the best multichannel processing architecture. Results are shown by using real multichannel PBR data.

Batches algorithm for passive radar: a theoretical analysis

Passive bistatic radar or passive coherent location is gaining interest in the radar community, as it provides some advantages with respect to active radar. Passive radar does not aim to replace active radar; it provides a good complement to it. The computational effort that is required to implement the required signal processing is one of the drawbacks that affect passive radars. In this paper, a suboptimal but computationally affordable detection algorithm is investigated that is applicable to arbitrary waveforms (different types of illuminators of opportunity). First, a detailed mathematical formulation of the proposed suboptimum algorithm is derived. A theoretical performance analysis is then provided based on a comparison of the proposed with the optimum two-dimensional matched filter. Finally, simulated and real data are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and to validate the theoretical performance analysis.

Simulation of X-band polarimetric weather radar returns based on the Weather Research and Forecast model

A model is developed in this paper that simulates polarimetric radar returns from rain and hail at X-Band. To do this, the output data from an open-source meteorological model, namely the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF), and a numerical electromagnetic prediction code based on the Transmission-Matrix (T-Matrix) method are jointly used. Promising results are obtained that are in accordance with real observations. This model is intended to be used as input for a weather radar simulator with polarimetric and Doppler estimation capabilities.

Dual-polarization DVB-T passive radar: Experimental results

The present work is going to investigate the potential benefits obtainable by taking advantage of the polarization diversity in a Passive Bistatic Radar (PBR) system exploiting Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial (DVB-T) signals. In particular, a PBR demonstrator equipped with a surveillance array antenna able of simultaneously receiving both horizontal and vertical polarizations has been used to experimentally assess the radar performances as a function of the received polarization. The results obtained in a maritime scenario show a different target Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) variation as a function of the surveillance channel receiving polarization. Therefore, the availability of receiving both Horizontal (H) and Vertical (V) polarizations might improve the target detection performance if a suitable method of combining the signals received at different polarization is adopted.

The effects of DVB-T SFN data on passive radar signal processing

In this paper, we compare and contrast code, time and spatial domain signal processing techniques for mitigating the effects of the ambiguities present in single frequency network digital broadcast signals in passive radar. By performing these additional processing steps, the number of ambiguities present in the range Doppler scene will be reduced by approximately one third or a half (situation dependant). We also compare and contrast different combinations of temporal and spatial signal processing and demonstrate using real data that adaptive beamforming combined with temporal signal processing gives the greatest SINR performance.

Multifunction imaging passive radar for harbour protection and navigation safety

In a maritime domain awareness scenario, two main areas of interest can be recognized, specifically harbour protection and navigation safety. Harbour protection is currently a main concern and it is aimed at controlling the risk associated with possible attacks or illegal activities which can take place in the marine access areas. On the other hand, the objectives of the navigation safety are essentially connected to achieve an improved maritime navigational awareness by providing information on collision avoidance and general guidance to the navigators [1].

Software-defined Multiband Array Passive Radar (SMARP) project: An overview

This paper presents the results of the Software-defined Multiband Array Passive Radar (SMARP) project. The objective of the project was to design and realize a multiband passive radar demonstrator based on a software-defined solution and oriented to coastal surveillance applications. This work has been conceived in the framework of the Italian National Plan for Military Research. The project overall duration was 36 months and it was composed by three phases. The system concept and the results of each phase are presented in this paper.