An Analysis of Clustering Tools for Moving Target Indication

Abstract

Previously, we developed a moving target indication (MTI) processing approach to detect and track slow-moving targets inside buildings, which successfully detected moving targets (MTs) from data collected by a low-frequency, ultrawideband radar. Our MTI processing algorithms include change detection (CD), used to identify the MT signature; automatic target detection (ATD), used to eliminate imaging artifacts and potential false alarms due to target multi-bounce effects; clustering, used to identify a centroid for each cluster in the ATD output images; and tracking, used to establish a trajectory of the MT. These algorithms can be implemented in a real-time or near-real-time system; however, a person-in-the-loop is needed to select input parameters for the clustering algorithm. Specifically, the number of clusters to input into the cluster algorithm is unknown and requires manual selection. A critical need exists to automate all aspects of the MTI processing formulation. In this report, we investigate two techniques that automatically determine the number of clusters: the knee-point (KP) algorithm and the recursive pixel finding (RPF) algorithm. The KP algorithm is a well-known heuristic approach for determining the number of clusters. The RPF algorithm is analogous to the image processing, pixel labeling procedure. Both routines processed data collected by our low-frequency, ultrawideband radar and their results are compared.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA512473

Entities

People

  • Anthony F. Martone
  • Kenneth Ranney
  • Roberto Innocenti

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Artifacts
  • Change Detection
  • Clustering
  • Computational Complexity
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • False Alarms
  • Frequency
  • Image Processing
  • Moving Targets
  • Statistics
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Target Detection
  • Time Domain
  • Trajectories
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Operations Research
  • Radar Systems Engineering.