Radar system and method for detecting and discriminating targets from a safe distance

摘要

A frequency-agile, narrow-instantaneous bandwidth radar system detects objects, and discriminates between different types of objects, from a safe stand-off distance. Transmit circuitry transmits a train of continuous wave signals in a multitude of stepped operating frequencies that illuminates the target area. Return signals from the target area are received through at least a pair of spaced-apart receive antennas. Signal receive/processing circuitry coupled to the spaced-apart receive antennas selectively combines and processes the return signals to identify variations in the received signals indicative of the presence of a specific type of object. At each of the stepped frequencies, the system noise and the clutter of the signals is reduced by averaging and smoothing the incoming data and the cross-power spectrum at each frequency is calculated. Using the information of the power spectra of all frequencies, the Mahalanobis distance is defined and the presence and classification of a target is determined. Using the information of the cross-power spectra of all frequencies, the location of the mine is determined by the azimuth angle and echo time.