Signal processing and waveform selection strategies in multistatic radar systems

Abstract

The multistatic ambiguity function has recently been used as a tool for analyzing multistatic radar systems. It was demonstrated that the multistatic ambiguity function with proper analytical foundation and corresponding graphic representation can serve as a guideline for developing multistatic radar signal processing rules. In this work we use this newly developed approach to combine optimal selection of weights for fusing signals from multiple receivers with waveform selection strategies in order to meet desired performance goals. We consider configurations with multiple receivers and one transmitter and demonstrate through examples that multistatic system performances can be significantly improved when selection of system parameters is based on shaping of the multistatic ambiguity function. This approach promises to be beneficial especially in scenarios with rapidly changing geometries, such as when the transmitter and/or receivers are moving, and when waveform diversity is applied, since the classical detection theory does not take into account the system geometry and waveform shape.