ESTIMATOR - dESign opTimizatIon of coherent Mimo rAdar neTwORks enabled by photonics
Abstract
The current, conventional concept of radar is based on stand-alone and independent apparatuses. Superiorperformance is possible employing a network of distributed, multi-site radars, with the possibility of multiplepoints of view, and capable of a centralized fusion of the data acquired from each different viewpoint (i.e., radarnetwork node). Yet, significant performance enhancement is possible only if coherence exists among the networknodes. Todays multi-site systems based only on radio frequency (RF) technology cannot guarantee multipleviewpoints with centralized data fusion, since they are not able to provide the requested degree of coherence,and the needed high capacity links among the radar nodes belonging to the same network. In the current RFdistributed systems, radar nodes act almost independently from each other. Therefore, they operate fusion ondata pre-processed by each node, thus exploiting a partial information content, potentially harming thedetection, localization, and imaging capabilities of the distributed system. Recently, the Proponentsdemonstrated the first largely distributed coherent multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) radar system enabledby photonics, which maximizes the information content extracted by means of centralized data fusion, providingunprecedented resolution enhancement capabilities. Stepping from previous achievements, where photonicshas been demonstrated in single radars for providing coherent multi-band operation, photonics has been usedin MIMO system also for providing coherence and high capacity links among radars. Preliminary experiments andsimulations have verified the attained superior spatial resolution, and the benefits of coherent multi-bandoperation for a significant decrease of the false alarm rate.The project ESTIMATOR aims at deeply investigating largely distributed, coherent, multi-band MIMO radarsystems from a theoretical and numerical point of view. The goal is to disclose the potential of these systemsand assess their advantages over single-band, classic multisite architectures. Based on the results of a deepand exhaustive analysis, not existing at present, ESTIMATOR will allow to efficiently design coherent, largelydistributed, multi-band, multi-waveform, photonics-assisted MIMO systems. The project will provide ageneral analysis; however, it will focus on the optimization for two relevant maritime surveillance use cases.ESTIMATOR, for the first time, will disclose all the potential of MIMO radars by analyzing their performance withrespect to many design parameters, considering systems that are actually realizable and deployable thanks tophotonics. The project will provide methods for the optimum design of the radar network topology, enabling theflexibility in meeting specific scenario requirements, allowing unprecedented target detection, localization, andimaging capabilities, considering also the system complexity and scalability. MIMO radars and the related designrules provided by ESTIMATOR are expected to set a new paradigm in the world of surveillance radars, that maychange surveillance systems concept and design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 02, 2021
- Source ID
- N629092112009
Entities
People
- Antonella Bogoni
Organizations
- National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy