A method for realizing tracking and searching working mode of phased array radar

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for realizing a tracking and searching working mode of a phased array radar, and relates to the technical field of phased array radars. The method utilizes the characteristics that TAS and TWS modes are the same in scanning range, waveform parameters, and radar signal processing algorithms. On the basis of a TWS architecture, a beam scheduling strategy is added to the TWS mode to quickly develop a TAS mode, so that TAS can reuse the radar tracking processing algorithm in the TWS architecture, has strong versatility for phased array radars, and has simple beam scheduling strategies and timing, low architecture complexity, low requirements on radar processing and timing control resources, and is easy to implement in engineering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of phased array radars, and in particular to a method for realizing a tracking and searching working mode of a phased array radar. Background Art

[0002] TAS is a typical multi-target tracking working mode of phased array radar. It is a tracking and searching method that tracks the target while scanning. This method is different from the traditional tracking and searching (Track while Scan, TWS) method of radar. After searching the target, the TAS method will intercept the target and establish tracking, and allocate beam time specifically for target tracking. The TAS method can be understood as interspersing many tracking task beams inside the TWS method.

[0003] Although different TAS architectures have the same principle, they may have different time resource allocation mechanisms for target search and backscatter tracking, and the difficulty of engineering implementation is also different. When developing TAS modes, we should combine typical radar application scenarios and radar processing system architecture to seek engineering implementation methods with lower difficulty and that meet typical applications.

[0004] A reasonable TAS mode can give full play to the advantages of phased array technology. In recent years, although phased array technology has been maturely applied in ground reconnaissance and surveillance radars, in terms of TAS mode architecture and engineering implementation, most of the public literature describes the general TAS architecture, and few documents explore the radar TAS architecture and implementation methods under complex backgrounds. When phased array radars are used in target detection scenarios under complex backgrounds, such as two-dimensional active phased array radars installed on the ground for border defense and key point protection, they usually need to detect personnel and vehicle targets on the ground and drone targets in the air. Under the combined influence of ground clutter and multipath effects, dozens or hundreds of suspected targets will appear. The general TAS architecture is difficult to meet the application needs of complex backgrounds. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the above problems and technical requirements, the inventors have proposed a method for implementing a phased array radar tracking and searching working mode. The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A method for implementing a phased array radar tracking and searching working mode, the method comprising:

[0007] During the search period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar searches for targets in the TWS working mode according to the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle;

[0008] Generate a TAS target list based on the targets searched by the phased array radar during the search period of the current working cycle;

[0009] During the tracking period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar performs target reflection tracking in TWS working mode according to the wave position table corresponding to the TAS target list.

[0010] A further technical solution is to generate a TAS target list based on the targets searched by the phased array radar within the search time period of the current working cycle, including:

[0011] The priority of each searched target is determined according to a predetermined strategy, and several targets with the highest priority are selected to generate a TAS target list.

[0012] A further technical solution is to generate a TAS target list based on the targets searched by the phased array radar within the search time period of the current working cycle, including:

[0013] A configuration instruction is received, and a plurality of targets indicated by the configuration instruction are selected from the searched targets to generate a TAS target list.

[0014] Its further technical solution is that the method further comprises:

[0015] The number of search frames corresponding to the current working cycle is adjusted according to the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle and the acceleration of the targets. The more targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, the fewer search frames corresponding to the current working cycle; the higher the movement acceleration of the targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, the fewer search frames corresponding to the current working cycle.

[0016] A further technical solution is to adjust the number of search frames corresponding to the current working cycle according to the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle and the acceleration of the targets, including:

[0017] Determine a first candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the number range of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle;

[0018] Determine a second candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the motion acceleration range of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle;

[0019] The smaller one of the first candidate frame number and the second candidate frame number is selected as the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle.

[0020] A further technical solution is to determine the first candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the number range of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, including:

[0021] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M≤c, the first candidate frame number is determined to be N;

[0022] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is c<M≤d, the first candidate frame number is determined to be N / b;

[0023] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M>d, the first candidate frame number is determined to be N / f;

[0024] Wherein, M is the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and b, c, d, and f are all constant coefficients.

[0025] A further technical solution is to determine a second candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the motion acceleration range of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, including:

[0026] When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is a≤h, the second candidate frame number is determined to be N;

[0027] When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is h<a≤p, the second candidate frame number is determined to be N / g;

[0028] When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is a>p, the second candidate frame number is determined to be N / r;

[0029] Where a is the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and g, h, p, and r are all constant coefficients.

[0030] The beneficial technical effects of the present invention are:

[0031] The present application discloses a method for realizing a tracking and searching working mode of a phased array radar. The method utilizes the characteristics that the TAS and TWS modes are the same in scanning range, waveform parameters, and radar signal processing algorithms. On the basis of the TWS architecture, a beam scheduling strategy is added to the TWS mode to quickly develop the TAS mode, so that the TAS mode can reuse the radar tracking processing algorithm in the TWS architecture. The method has strong versatility for phased array radars, and the beam scheduling strategy and timing are simple, the architecture complexity is low, the requirements for radar processing and timing control resources are not high, and the engineering implementation is easy.

[0032] Furthermore, the method can automatically or manually generate TAS target lists, which is highly flexible. The number of search frames can also be adaptively adjusted, so that the search beam resources and the return beam resources can be balanced, which is conducive to improving tracking stability, especially for searching and tracking multiple targets in complex backgrounds. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the working process when the phased array radar implements the tracking and searching working mode according to the method disclosed in this application.

[0034] Figure 2 It is a timing diagram of a phased array radar when operating according to the method of the present application.

[0035] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the wave position table generated by the phased array radar.

[0036] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of simulation results when a phased array radar operates according to the method of the present application in an example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The specific implementation of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] This application discloses a method for implementing a phased array radar tracking and searching working mode. Please refer to Figure 1 The method comprises the following steps:

[0039] Step 1: During the search time period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar searches for targets in the TWS working mode according to the search frame number T corresponding to the current working cycle. In this application, the phased array radar works in sequence according to several working cycles, each of which includes a search time period and a tracking time period. During the search time period, the phased array radar only searches and does not return to track. During the tracking time period, the phased array radar only returns to track and does not search. The timing diagram is shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown.

[0040] Therefore, during the search time period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar sequentially steps T wave positions according to the search frame number T corresponding to the current working cycle to search for the target and obtain the target information.

[0041] Step 2: Generate a TAS target list based on the targets searched by the phased array radar during the search period of the current working cycle. You can update all the searched targets to the TAS target list, or you can select only some of them. If you select some targets, there are two main implementation methods: manual TAS mode and automatic TAS mode. Figure 3 As shown:

[0042] 1. In the automatic TAS mode, the priority of each searched target is determined according to a predetermined strategy, and several targets with the highest priority are selected to generate a TAS target list. The predetermined strategy is pre-set according to the working characteristics of the phased array radar and the actual project requirements, and this application does not describe it in detail.

[0043] 2. In manual TAS mode, after receiving the configuration command, a number of targets indicated by the configuration command are selected from the various targets searched to generate a TAS target list. In other words, manual configuration can be performed through the display and control terminal of the phased array radar to increase the priority of a specific target and update it to the TAS target list.

[0044] Regardless of which of the above modes is adopted, for a two-dimensional active phased array radar, the TAS target list mainly includes the target number, target azimuth, target elevation angle, etc.

[0045] Step 3, during the tracking time period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar performs target back tracking in the TWS working mode according to the wave position table corresponding to the TAS target list. As described above, the phased array radar in the present application is performed alternately according to the timing of the search time period, the tracking time period, and the search time period. According to the timing relationship, the wave position table corresponding to the TAS target list can be obtained, that is, the wave position table is composed of L wave positions corresponding to the targets in the TAS target list. Then the phased array radar performs the detection of each wave position in the wave position table in turn in the TWS working mode, and updates the newly detected target to the TAS target list when performing the detection of each wave position. After the detection of all L wave positions in the wave position table is completed, a new wave position table is generated according to the TAS target list at this time to continue detection.

[0046] Since in this application, a search period and a tracking period constitute a working cycle, and the total duration of a working cycle should be moderate, when there are many targets in the TAS target list, the previous tracking period is long. At this time, it is recommended to shorten the next search period, that is, reduce the number of search frames. From the perspective of tracking stability, when the target moves more maneuverably, the number of search frames should also be reduced, and the target should be reflected as soon as possible to ensure that the target falls within the tracking threshold.

[0047] Taking the above two aspects into consideration, the present application sets an adaptive adjustment strategy for the search frame number, and adjusts the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle according to the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle and the acceleration of the targets. The more targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, the fewer search frames corresponding to the current working cycle; the higher the movement acceleration of the targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, the fewer search frames corresponding to the current working cycle.

[0048] The above-mentioned adaptive adjustment strategy for the search frame number of the present application is based on the initial search frame number N, that is, in the initial search period of the phased array radar, the target search is performed according to the initial search frame number N, and in the subsequent cycle work process, the actual search frame number T is adjusted according to the above-mentioned adaptive adjustment strategy, so T≤N. Specifically:

[0049] (1) Determine the first candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the number range of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle. The specific setting is:

[0050] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M≤c, it means that the number of targets is small, and the first candidate frame number is determined to be N.

[0051] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is c<M≤d, it means that the number of targets is in an intermediate state, and the first candidate frame number is determined to be N / b.

[0052] When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M>d, it means that the number of targets is large, and the first candidate frame number is determined to be N / f.

[0053] Wherein, M is the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and b, c, d, and f are all constant coefficients.

[0054] (2) Determine the second candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the motion acceleration range of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle. The specific setting is:

[0055] When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is a≤h, it means that the target is stable, and the second candidate frame number is determined to be N;

[0056] When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is h<a≤p, it indicates that the target motion state is in an intermediate state, and the second candidate frame number is determined to be N / g;

[0057] When the motion acceleration a of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is greater than p, it indicates that the target is maneuvering, and the second candidate frame number is determined to be N / r;

[0058] Wherein, a is the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, which can be the average value or mode of the motion acceleration of all targets in the TAS target list, etc. g, h, p, and r are all constant coefficients.

[0059] (3) Select the smaller one between the first candidate frame number and the second candidate frame number as the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle.

[0060] In an example of the present application, based on a certain radar model, the TAS architecture and implementation method proposed in the present invention are used to complete the development of the TAS working mode, and the adaptive adjustment strategy of the search frame number is set as follows:

[0061] First candidate frame number illustrate condition N Few targets The number of targets M≤2 2N / 3 Intermediate state The number of targets 2<M≤5 N / 3 Many targets The number of targets M>5

[0062] as well as

[0063] Second candidate frame number illustrate condition N Target stable The target's motion acceleration a≤0.5 2N / 3 Intermediate state The target's acceleration is 0.5<a≤2 N / 3 Target Maneuver The target's motion acceleration a>2

[0064] Through actual test verification, it is proved that the architecture is reasonable and the method is feasible. 6 In this simulation, 10 targets are randomly distributed in the entire airspace and the entire range. When N is 20, all 10 targets are discovered, and it takes an average of about 9.06 seconds. Figure 4 As shown in the figure, it reflects that too small or too large a number of search frames is not conducive to quickly discovering all targets, which is consistent with engineering reality.

[0065] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It is understood that other improvements and changes directly derived or associated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and concept of the present invention should be considered to be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a phased array radar tracking and searching working mode, characterized in that: The method comprises: During the search period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar searches for targets in the TWS working mode according to the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle; Generate a TAS target list according to the targets searched by the phased array radar during the search time period of the current working cycle; During the tracking time period of the current working cycle, the phased array radar performs target backscatter tracking in a TWS working mode according to the wave position table corresponding to the TAS target list; The method also includes: determining a first candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the number range of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, determining a second candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the motion acceleration range of the targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and selecting the smaller of the first candidate frame number and the second candidate frame number as the search frame number corresponding to the current working cycle; the more the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, the fewer the search frames corresponding to the current working cycle, the higher the motion acceleration of the targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and the fewer the search frames corresponding to the current working cycle.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The generating a TAS target list according to the targets searched by the phased array radar within the search time period of the current working cycle includes: The priority of each searched target is determined according to a predetermined strategy, and several targets with the highest priority are selected to generate the TAS target list.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The generating a TAS target list according to the targets searched by the phased array radar within the search time period of the current working cycle includes: A configuration instruction is received, and a plurality of targets indicated by the configuration instruction are selected from the searched targets to generate the TAS target list.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The determining of the first candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the number range of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle includes: When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M≤c, determining the first candidate frame number to be N; When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is c<M≤d, determining the first candidate frame number to be N / b; When the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is M>d, determining the first candidate frame number to be N / f; Wherein, M is the number of targets in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and b, c, d, and f are all constant coefficients.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The determining of the second candidate frame number based on the initial search frame number N according to the motion acceleration range of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle includes: When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is a≤h, determining the second candidate frame number to be N; When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is h<a≤p, determining the second candidate frame number to be N / g; When the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle is a>p, determining the second candidate frame number to be N / r; Where a is the motion acceleration of the target in the TAS target list of the previous working cycle, and g, h, p, and r are all constant coefficients.

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