Fast and unambiguous direction finding for digital radar intercept receivers.
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(Library staff access only)
Date
2013
Authors
Ly, Peter Quoc Cuong
Editors
Advisors
Gray, Douglas Andrew
Bates, Bevan Douglas
Elton, Stephen Dennis
Bates, Bevan Douglas
Elton, Stephen Dennis
Journal Title
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Thesis
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Abstract
This thesis considers the problem of angle-of-arrival (AOA) estimation in the context of its application to electronic surveillance systems. Due to the operational requirements of such systems, the AOA estimation algorithm must be computationally fast, accurate and will need to be implemented using sparse, large aperture arrays. Interferometry is proposed as a suitable algorithm that meets the operational requirements of electronic surveillance systems. However, for sparse array geometries, phase wrapping effects introduce ambiguities to the phase measurements and so unambiguous AOA estimation requires the use of computationally intensive ambiguity resolution algorithms using three or more antennas. Beamforming and array processing techniques are another class of AOA estimation algorithms that can unambiguously estimate the AOA using sparse, large aperture arrays. While these techniques generally offer better AOA estimation performance than interferometric techniques, they are also comparatively more computationally intensive algorithms. Furthermore, by virtue of using very sparse arrays, high sidelobes in the array beampattern may cause incorrect AOA estimation. This thesis will introduce the concept of using second-order difference array (SODA) geometries which allow unambiguous AOA estimation to be performed in a computationally effcient manner. In the context of interferometry, the so-called “SODA interferometer" will be shown to synthesise the equivalent output of a smaller virtual aperture to allow unambiguous AOA estimation to be performed at the expense of a coarser estimation performance compared to the physical aperture of the array. It will also be shown that the coarse SODA AOA estimate can be used to cue the conventional ambiguity resolution algorithms to provide higher accuracy in a computationally efficient manner. This thesis will also show that the creation of virtual arrays from SODA geometries can be generalised to a larger number of antennas to allow conventional array processing techniques to perform unambiguous AOA estimation in a computationally fast manner. The AOA estimation performance of each algorithm is compared through simulations and also verified using experimental data. This thesis will show that the SODA interferometer, SODA-cued ambiguity resolution algorithms and so-called “second-order array processors" can be used to obtain high accuracy AOA estimates in a more computationally efficient manner than the conventional algorithms.
School/Discipline
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 2013
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals