Over-the-horizon Radar Weak Target Detection Based On Dynamic Programming Algorithm

Over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) has the feature of long distance detection, large areas surveillance, anti-stealth and so on, which has abroad applications in military. Studying detect and track of the radar has an important significance. Based on radar signal detect, a summary account about weak target detect based on track-before-detect radar in the paper. And then, it emphasizes how to detect weak target of the over-the-horizon radar using dynamic programming algorithm. Radar signal detect which including the best detect rule of radar signal, constant false alarm rate detect and impulse integration are discussed here. Subsequently, basic concept and several algorithms of the track-before-detect are produced. It emphasizes equations and use in weak target of dynamic programming algorithm. In conclusion, over-the-horizon radar weak target based on dynamic programming algorithm is produced which can be concluded as follows: Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to implement short coherent integration to get Range-Doppler imagine first, using mathematical morphology filter to process every frame then, thereafter using dynamic programming algorithm (DPA)to get weak target. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has the advantages of effectively improved weak target detection ability for OTHR and high computational efficiency.