An extended track-before-detect algorithm for infrared target detection

Abstract

Track-Before-Detect (TBD) approaches have important applications such as the detection of small, dim targets in a long-range Infrared Detection and Tracking (IRDT) system. The movement model of target limited by TBD is extended to that of target with constant acceleration in this work. An algorithm based on linear variant-coefficient difference equation for moving target indication is proposed. Moreover, based on parametric models of target and background, this paper presents an analysis of its optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain versus target and background characteristics as well as the sensitivity of this gain to mismatch.