Radar tracking of multitarget complexes using Hough transforms
Thierry B. Copie, William J. Jacobson, Harold Payson · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1996
An important function for a fire control radar consists of the simultaneous tracking of multiple objects in a missile complex. A challenging tracking scenario is encountered when dense clusters of targets are viewed at large stand-off ranges. In this case, multiple target detections are found within a single radar beam. Because such highly populated complexes are not resolved in angle (azimuth, elevation), separation of the individual objects must rely on the use of wideband waveforms with good range resolution. A multi-object tracking algorithm suitable for real-time implementation has been designed to exploit range-only correlations. Good track initiation efficiency is achieved through the use of short radar observation times combined with applications of Hough transforms. Tracking filters are subsequently used to update all existing tracks with metrics and signature histories. A brief description of the algorithm is presented with focus on the specific tracking techniques appropriate for dense clusters of slowly separating objects on ballistic trajectories. The performance of the tracking algorithm has been evaluated and results are presented for several tracking strategies and different radar sampling rates.