A computer-implemented method for automatically controlling false alarms; a method for processing a radar signal and associated computer program.

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for the automatic control of false alarms; a method for processing a radar signal and associated computer program. This method for the automatic control of false alarms in a list of plots (L1) corresponding to the output of a detection process (2) operating on a radar signal delivered by a maritime observation radar is characterized by a tracking process (34) enabling the identification of plots in the list of plots likely to correspond to a spike (LS). The tracking process is a hierarchical tracking process consisting, at the lowest level, of tracking spikes, and, at the highest level, of tracking groups of spikes. The tracking of spikes at the lowest level is performed conditionally at the highest level based on a common parameter characteristic of each group of spikes. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Computer-implemented method for automatic false alarm control; Method for processing a radar signal and associated computer program.

[0001] The invention relates to the field of automatic false alarm control methods, implemented in a radar signal processing chain for target detection, for maritime surveillance missions for example.

[0002] A classic processing chain is based on the implementation of a detection module or detector, for example a detector with a constant false alarm rate -TFAC (“constant false alarm rate” in English).

[0003] One or more additional processing modules are added to this detector to confirm, among the primary patches from the detector (also called primary detections), the patches corresponding to an object of interest. For example, a kinematic extractor is implemented which performs a scan-by-scan processing to filter the primary patches over several revisits of a region of the radar domain during a certain time interval in order to confirm the presence of an object of interest.

[0004] A plot gathers information derived from the collected radar echoes, such as a position, a radar cross-section, etc. If the radar has a Doppler mode, a plot can also contain radial velocity information.

[0005] Downstream of these detection processes in the broadest sense, the processing chain includes a target tracking module, the purpose of which is to ensure the tracking of objects of interest over time based on confirmed plots. This module estimates the kinematic characteristics of a target, such as its position, velocity, etc. This estimation is performed, for example, by an estimation algorithm of the Kalman filter type.

[0006] The target tracking module, for example, produces a trajectory estimate for an operator of the radar system or mission system. For example, this estimated trajectory is displayed on a human-machine interface of the system.

[0007] Among the plots (primary or confirmed), some of them actually correspond to targets, while others correspond to false alarms. These are power spikes attributed either to thermal noise or to radar echoes from clutter (ground, sea, atmosphere).

[0008] In the context of maritime surveillance, sea clutter, consisting of backscatterings of the radar signal by the surface of the sea, is a major source of false alarms.

[0009] In particular, echoes of the sea clutter whose power is comparable to that of the objects of interest appear on the surface of the sea.

[0010] Such an echo is called a "spike".

[0011] The number of spikes actually depends on the sensitivity of the detector.

[0012] A spike appears as soon as an echo from the sea clutter exhibits a contrast greater than the detection threshold used by the detector. Contrast is a measure of the power of a cell distance / recurrence under test relative to the surrounding environment, for example, the average power around the cell under test.

[0013] This is all the more problematic when the detection threshold is low and the environment is dominated by thermal noise.

[0014] The spikes then compete with the objects of interest in the processing that follows the detection processing, in particular target tracking.

[0015] Regulating the rate of occurrence of false alarms is therefore a major challenge in the design of radar processing.

[0016] Various physical events can cause these spikes, such as breaking waves, waves breaking on shoals, water currents going in different directions, gusts of wind, etc. Although visible in the open sea, these phenomena are even more numerous in coastal areas.

[0017] Depending on the nature of the phenomenon generating spikes, these exhibit specific properties of persistence, appearance, stationarity, and speed.

[0018] However, these properties exhibit such variability that it remains difficult to design a suitable treatment capable of separating a spike from a target, particularly in the presence of a sea clutter described as atypical.

[0019] Known methods for controlling false alarms are based on a statistical model of the phenomenon of spike occurrence. Some classical statistical models of sea clutter employ a "heavy-tailed" law, such as the K-distribution or its more elaborate multi-parameter variants "KK" and "KA", to represent the probabilities of spike occurrence.

[0020] The K law allows us to model an "average" behavior of the sea mess, with an underestimation of the probability of appearance of spikes and their power level.

[0021] The more elaborate variants (but more difficult to manipulate because they introduce more statistical parameters) allow for better modeling of the appearance of very high power spikes.

[0022] The next step is to raise the detection thresholds to maintain the rate of occurrence of false alarms below a setpoint value.

[0023] However, this is done at the expense of detecting targets of interest.

[0024] Another approach consists of exploiting the kinematic coherence of the targets with respect to the spikes, which are assumed to be less persistent over time than the targets, the idea being to be able to keep the detection thresholds at levels low enough to allow the detection of the targets of interest.

[0025] The kinematic extractor thus aims to exclude primary plots corresponding to spikes according to a criterion complementary to that of the power of the returned signal.

[0026] The aim is therefore to propose alternative methods allowing the radar detection capabilities to be maintained by applying treatments and detection thresholds adapted to various sea clutter environments, while controlling the overall constant false alarm occurrence rate.

[0027] The aim of the invention is therefore to address this problem.

[0028] To this end, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method, automatic control of false alarms in a list of input plots corresponding to an output of a detection processing method operating on a radar signal delivered by a maritime observation radar, the method being characterized in that it implements a tracking process enabling the identification of plots in the list of plots likely to correspond to a spike, the tracking process being a hierarchical tracking process consisting, at the lowest level, of tracking spikes, and, at the highest level, of tracking groups of spikes, the tracking of spikes at the lowest level being carried out conditionally at the highest level according to a common parameter characteristic of each group of spikes track.

[0029] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the method comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0030] - the tracking process is carried out by implementing a tracking algorithm multi-group multi-spike, the output of said algorithm being a finite high-level random estimated set, said set indicating in particular a likelihood that a plot in the list of plots corresponds to a spike;

[0031] - the characteristic parameter is a spike group velocity and / or a length group spike wave;

[0032] - a spike is a phenomenon on the surface of the sea which gives rise to one or more powerful radar echoes, these radar echoes leading to the generation of primary plots;

[0033] - the tracking treatment is based on the assumption that the spikes result from one or several swell trains;

[0034] - the list of plots is a list of primary plots delivered at the output of the process of detection processing or a list of secondary plots delivered at the output of another automatic false alarm control process;

[0035] - delivering a list of spike plots, each plot in the list of spike plots having a likelihood greater than a predefined cut-off threshold;

[0036] - a plot from the list of spike plots is characterized by at least one position and advantageously by a speed, a likelihood of corresponding to a spike, a cardinality of a group of spikes to which the plot in question belongs, and / or a persistence of a spike trail to which the plot in question belongs.

[0037] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising software instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement a process as defined above.

[0038] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0039] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a schematic representation, in the form of modules functional, of a radar signal processing chain, implementing the method according to the invention;

[0040] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a method for controlling false alarms according to the invention;

[0041] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation illustrating the principle on which the process according to the invention is based;

[0042] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of the tracking algorithm group of spikes implemented in the process of [Fig.2]; and,

[0043] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a probability density graph of the number of groups of spikes identified during the execution of the algorithm in [Fig.4].

[0044] GENERAL INFORMATION

[0045] In this application, the term "spike" is used to designate a phenomenon on the sea surface that gives rise to one or more strong radar echoes (i.e., one or more pulsed peaks), these radar echoes being detected by the detector in the radar signal processing chain (i.e., generating primary dots over time at the detector output). A spike is therefore, in this context, a detectable object (an elementary reflector), just like a target.

[0046] Prior art treatments do not consider the sea clutter in its underlying physics.

[0047] But, assuming that they result from one or more wave trains on the surface of the sea, the spikes must show some correlation between them, for example on their speed.

[0048] Based on this hypothesis, it is then conceivable to introduce a false alarm control based on spike group tracking.

[0049] In general, it is a hierarchical tracking process consisting, at the lowest level, of tracking spikes, and, at the highest level, of tracking groups of spikes, the tracking of spikes at the lowest level being carried out conditionally at the highest level which defines the value of a characteristic parameter of each group of spikes.

[0050] Spike tracking from primary plots allows estimating a value of a common parameter for each spike track, such as the speed value of each spike track.

[0051] Spike group tracking from spike tracks allows estimation of the value of the common parameter of each spike group, such as the velocity value of each spike group.

[0052] A spike track belongs to a group of spikes when the value of the common parameter of that spike track is close to the value of the common parameter of that group of spikes.

[0053] In the preferred embodiment, this processing is carried out by an algorithm which processes these different levels of tracking simultaneously in a suitable statistical formalism.

[0054] The inputs of this algorithm are the primary plots.

[0055] The grouping is not a binary decision: each primary plot belongs with a certain likelihood to a group of spikes.

[0056] The output of this algorithm is a list of plots having a high probability of corresponding to spikes. It is referred to as the "list of spike plots" or, more simply, the "list of spikes" in the following.

[0057] This list of spikes then allows the list of primary plots to be filtered to obtain a list of confirmed plots.

[0058] The processing chain incorporating the method according to the invention therefore provides two tracking spaces: one for the targets of interest and the other for the spikes. Information acquired in one of the two tracking spaces feeds into the tracking in the other space. In particular, when tracking targets, it is advantageous to disregard the primary markers known to correspond to spikes.

[0059] [Fig.1]

[0060] Fig. 1 represents, in the form of functional blocks, a preferred embodiment of a radar signal processing chain 1, for the purpose of detecting and tracking targets, this processing chain being adapted to implement the method according to the invention.

[0061] The processing chain 1 is specific to the use of a radar in a maritime context.

[0062] It takes as input a raw radar signal advantageously pre-processed (pre-processing module 6). The raw radar signal generally consists of a complex signal represented by its phase components, denoted I, and quadrature components, denoted Q. A common pre-processing consists of calculating the power of this digitized signal, denoted P, after processing adapted to the radar waveform.

[0063] Processing chain 1 comprises: - a detector 2, which takes as input the power P of the digitized signal to produce, at each sampling step, a list of detections or primary plots, LL - a false alarm characterization module 3, which takes as input the list of primary plots L1 and outputs as output a list of confirmed detections, or confirmed plots, LC; and, - a target tracking module 4, taking as input the list of confirmed LC plots to track one or more targets of interest.

[0064] Advantageously, the processing chain 1 includes a feedback loop, taking the form of a module 5 for calculating global sea clutter indicators.

[0065] Detector 2 is for example a detector with a constant false alarm rate - TF AC.

[0066] The invention is not specific to a TF AC detector and applies to the following of any detection processing delivering a list of primary plots.

[0067] In this TFAC detector case, detector 2 comprises, in a manner known per se, for example: - a module 20 of average ambient noise; - a 22-module Z-contrast calculation module; - a module 24 for local noise characterization; - a module 26 for finding the appropriate threshold; and, - a thresholding module 28.

[0068] In particular, the thresholding module 28 generates a primary plot when the Z contrast value of a distance / recurrence box under test (as calculated at the output of module 22) is greater than the current detection threshold (as defined by the thresholding module 28).

[0069] A primary plot gathers a plurality of measured information. This generally includes a position measurement, a radar cross-section measurement, a signal-to-ambient ratio measurement, an associated detection threshold value, etc.

[0070] Optionally, the plurality of information of a primary plot includes a radial velocity measurement when this is measurable on the waveform (i.e. when the radar system uses a Doppler mode)

[0071] The false alarm characterization module 3 implements one or more processes to control false alarms by filtering the list of primary plots to seek to confirm each of these plots, i.e. to increase the probability that a primary plot actually corresponds to a target.

[0072] For example, module 3 includes a module 32 implementing a scan-to-scan processing to filter the L1 list of primary plots and deliver an L2 list of secondary plots.

[0073] Scan-to-scan processing allows, for example, filtering the primary plots from the TFAC over several revisits and resulting in the designation of confirmed plots.

[0074] The scan-to-scan processing implemented by module 32 is, for example, a kinematic extractor.

[0075] According to the invention, module 3 includes a spike group tracking module 34 suitable for delivering a list of spikes LS.

[0076] In the embodiment of [Fig. 1], module 34 takes as input the list L1 of primary plots. Modules 32 and 34 are therefore arranged in parallel with each other.

[0077] According to the invention, module 3 includes a confirmation module 36 allowing a list of plots to be filtered according to the plots belonging to the list of spikes LS in order to obtain the list LC of confirmed plots.

[0078] In the embodiment of [Fig. 1], the list of plots which is filtered is the list L2 of secondary plots, but, alternatively, it could be the list L1 of primary plots.

[0079] As output of the detection function in the broad sense (detection and control of false alarms), the processing chain generally includes additional information processing functions, such as target tracking, the objective of which is, for example, to produce a visual for the attention of the operator of the radar system or the mission system.

[0080] Thus, as shown in [Fig. 1], the processing chain 1 includes a target tracking module 4 whose purpose is to track objects of interest over time. Target tracking can also, by filtering (of the Kalman filter type), estimate the kinematic characteristics of the target tracks, i.e., of the objects of interest, such as position and velocity.

[0081] Module 5 includes, for example, a module 52 for calculating target density indicators from information provided by the target tracking module 4.

[0082] Module 5 includes, for example, a module for calculating global sea clutter indicators 50 from information provided as output from calculation module 52 target density indicators, module 24 of local noise characteristics, and advantageously module 3 of false alarm calculation.

[0083] The global indicators relating to clutter calculated by module 50 are for example transmitted to module 20 for calculating the average ambient noise, to module 26 for searching for the appropriate threshold, and / or to the false alarm calculation module 3.

[0084] FIGURES 2 AND 3

[0085] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the spike group tracking algorithm on which the method according to the invention is based.

[0086] Figure 2 represents, in block form, a method 300 for automatic false alarm control. It corresponds to the execution of module 3 of Figure 1.

[0087] Fig. 3 illustrates a geographical area 100, which is observed by the radar system at four successive times, the results of these four times of observation being shown superimposed on Fig. 3.

[0088] A wave train 101 propagates through the geographical area 100.

[0089] Some of the waves in the swell train 100 break during the observation period, causing the appearance of spikes.

[0090] For example, at the first instant, primary plots 111, 112 and 113 are detected, which in reality correspond to spikes.

[0091] For example, at the second instant, primary plots 122, 123 and 126 are detected, which in reality correspond to spikes

[0092] For example, at the third instant, primary plots 132, 133 and 135 are detected, which in reality correspond to spikes

[0093] For example, at the fourth instant, a primary plot 143 is detected, which in reality correspond to spikes

[0094] In parallel, a target of interest is present in the geographical area 100. Primary plots 114, 124, 134 and 144, corresponding in reality to this target, are generated respectively at the first, second, third and fourth times of the observation period.

[0095] In the preferred embodiment, presented here in detail, the process 300 begins with a kinematic filtering step 320.

[0096] It corresponds to the execution of module 32.

[0097] It consists of applying a kinematic extractor type algorithm to the plots of the first list LL II, for example, a Kalman filter type algorithm.

[0098] For each plot in list L1 at the current time, the kinematic extractor uses a filter that estimates the tracks of hypothetical targets, tracks opened during previous times, from the plots in lists L1 at previous times. If, during a certain time interval, a track has been fed by a certain number of plots from the previous moments and the plot of the current moment, then this plot at the current moment is kept and stored in the L2 list.

[0099] Furthermore, the plots of the first list L1 at the current time allow the filter to be updated for the next iteration of the kinematic estimator.

[0100] Thus, tracks that do not persist over a small number of radar revisits are discarded. The second list, L2, therefore contains the markers that persist over at least a certain number of sweeps (typically two rounds). These markers most likely correspond to a target.

[0101] In the situation illustrated in [Fig.3], this amounts to removing isolated plots, such as plots 111, 126 and 135.

[0102] The process 300 continues with a spike group tracking step 340. It corresponds to the execution of module 34 of [Fig.1].

[0103] It consists of applying a spike group tracking algorithm to the plots of the first list L1 to obtain a spike list LS.

[0104] The spike group tracking algorithm is a filter that estimates, from plots acquired at past times, the probability that a plot acquired at the current time, such as plots 141 and 144, actually corresponds to a spike. The plots acquired at the current time allow the estimator to be updated for the next iteration of step 340.

[0105] The method 340 exploits the values ​​of a common parameter between several tracks of primary studs, these studs being acquired at different times, to perform groupings between the primary studs and thus define one or more groups of spikes.

[0106] Thus, in [Fig. 3], the spike group tracking algorithm first tracks the spikes. Spike tracking is performed by estimating the velocity of a spike associated with the track and estimating the position of this spike at the current time; a plot detected at the current time confirms this spike track when its position is close to the estimated position of the spike.

[0107] Thus, for example, a spike track was opened with plot 112 and then confirmed with plots 122 and 132. The value of the speed of this object of interest is estimated from the positions of the different plots constituting this spike track.

[0108] For example, a spike track was opened with plot 113, then confirmed with plots 123 and 133. The value of the velocity of this object of interest is estimated from the positions of the different plots constituting this spike track.

[0109] For example, a spike track was opened with plot 111, but closed again since no primary plot could be associated with this track at subsequent observation times.

[0110] For example, a spike track was opened with plotter 114, then confirmed by plotters 124 and 134 at subsequent times. The velocity of this object is estimated from the positions of the different plotters constituting this spike track.

[0111] Then, the spike group tracking algorithm tracks the spike groups. Tracking is performed by estimating the velocity of a spike group at the current time; a spike track at the current time confirms this spike group track when its velocity is close to the estimated velocity of the spike group.

[0112] Thus for example, a spike group track G1 is opened with spike tracks 112,122 and 132 on one side and 113, 123, 133 on the other.

[0113] At the next instant, when acquiring a new plot, such as plot 143, a likelihood calculation between the characteristics of this new plot and those of the spike group allows us to evaluate the probability that this new plot belongs to the spike group G1 and consequently that it is indeed a spike rather than a target.

[0114] With regard to the spikes actually corresponding to a target, spikes 114, 124, 134 and 144 are grouped in a second group of spikes G2.

[0115] This allows us to note that, in the present method, the logic is reversed compared to target tracking, since the spikes are now the objects of interest being tracked, whereas the targets are part of the false alarms from the point of view of multi-group multi-spike tracking.

[0116] The spike group tracking method of the process associates with each spike in list L1 a likelihood of being a spike. In fact, spike group tracking produces a finite random set estimated as will be described in more detail in relation to [Fig. 4]. The spike group tracking method performs a probabilistic association where all spikes can feed all tracks.

[0117] By extracting all or part of the information from this random finite set, the list of LS spikes at the output of step 340 is advantageously constituted.

[0118] The spike list LS is, for example, the list of primary plots L1 that correspond with a high probability to spikes. In other words, the spike group tracking method, associating with each plot in list L1 a likelihood of being a spike, a cutoff probability is defined such that plots in list L1 with a likelihood lower than this cutoff probability are not retained in the spike list, and those with a likelihood greater than or equal to this cutoff probability are retained in the spike list.

[0119] Alternatively, the list of spikes includes all the primary plots from list L1 and associates with them an additional attribute corresponding to the likelihood of being a spike as calculated by the spike group tracking process.

[0120] Optionally, other information is added to each plot in the LS spike list, such as persistence information for the spike track to which the plot in question belongs, or the cardinality of the spike group to which the plot in question belongs.

[0121] The process 300 includes a final confirmation step 360 of the information obtained from the output of the kinematic extraction and spike group tracking steps in order to obtain a list of confirmed plots LC.

[0122] The merging step corresponds to the execution of the confirmation module 36.

[0123] For example, the second list of L2 plots is filtered to remove plots appearing in the LS spike list and thus obtain a list of confirmed LC plots. Each plot in this list corresponds to a target with a higher probability.

[0124] Other confirmation criteria may be implemented in this step.

[0125] For example, the confirmation module 36 can seek to identify in the list of LS spikes, the plots that actually correspond to spikes and those that actually correspond to a target.

[0126] A first criterion for this is to consider the cardinality of the spike groups output from module 34. If the cardinality of a spike group is equal to one, that is, if a group contains only one spike track, then the probability that the markers associated with this spike group actually correspond to a target is high. The situation that does not meet this criterion would be a set of targets moving in parallel at approximately the same speed (the case of ships traveling along a shipping lane).

[0127] A second criterion for this purpose is to consider the persistence of a spike trail. Indeed, a target persists for longer periods than a wave source of spikes. A group of spikes is filled with unit estimators that constantly appear and disappear, depending on the persistence time of a spike trail. The group of spikes persists even in the momentary absence of a spike trail, but "limited-duration" trails constantly appear and disappear when they actually correspond to spikes. Thus, the persistence of a spike trail over a long period (for example, more than ten successive sweeps) increases the probability that the dots in this spike trail actually correspond to a target.

[0128] A third criterion for this purpose involves considering the sector of the radar system's observation domain where spikes are detected. Indeed, spikes are predominantly distributed in the upwind sector across all wave fronts. Thus, the probability that the markers associated with a group of spikes are outside this sector increases the probability that these markers actually correspond to a target.

[0129] After identification of the spikes, the corresponding pads can be rejected from the set of pads used to feed the target tracking process.

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[0133] [Fig.4] While the algorithm has been presented above in a "literary" and therefore approximate way, what follows presents the mathematical formalise on which the algorithm is based to estimate the probability that a primary plot at the current time is a spike. At a given time, a finite high-level random set X is defined as the input variable of the spike group tracking algorithm. By "high level," we mean the highest level of the hierarchy, i.e., the spike group level. At the current time, the high-level random finite set X groups together a plurality of spike groups 'Xj', with i an integer between 1 and Si;

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[0139] The total number m of spike groups is represented by a probability distribution p over the cardinality of X. We denote it: p(ni) = P(Card(X) = Si) An example of the probability distribution p is given in [Fig.5]. Typically, the number of spike groups is equal to the number of wave trains on the sea surface within the area observed by the radar system. A spike group 'X^' associates a finite low-level random set X, and one or ' i several group parameters. By "low level," we mean the lowest level.

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[0147] of the hierarchical structure, i.e. the level of the spikes. Xj is a set of vectors x^X j integer between 1 and Pi: Xi = { X^'A ..., x^A .... X^} Each vector x^ corresponds to an open spike track at the current time. The low-level random finite set Xj includes neither tracks. A group parameter £. is a common characteristic of the group with index i. For example, it is the velocity vi characteristic of the spike group. At a current instant A, the measurements, that is to say the information associated with primary plots (for example from the first L1 or the second L2 depending on the implementation variant), can be gathered into the finite random set Zk: Zk={zkl, Zkp] with pEN, where P is the number of measurements at the current time k including objects of interest and false alarms.

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[0160] zk,l is the vector of measures associated with the plot of rank 1 in the list Ll. A multi-group density ji(X) is defined, along with the associated Bayesian filtering. It is the density ji(X) that is predicted and then updated in the filtering. The multi-group density at the previous instant k-1, first the object of a prediction, to obtain the density îï^ j(X^) ■ Using all the measurements Z^ then allows us to update this prediction in order to obtain the density at the current time k, n^Xk) ■ The multi-object density encapsulates and propagates the different assumptions about the number of groups and the estimated value of their respective group parameters. The filtering is, for example, a variant of the multi-group, multi-target Bayesian filtering presented in the document by Léo LEGRAND, Audrey GIREMUS, Eric GRIVEL, Laurent RATTON, Bernard JOSEPH, and Clément MAGNANT, “A hierarchical LMB / PHD filter for multiple groups of targets with coordinated motions”, in the 21st International Conference on Information Fusion, 2018, to take into account, in particular, the variation in the number of groups at each instant, i.e., the probability distribution p(nif Figure 4 illustrates the Bayesian filtering implemented by showing the hierarchical structure of the algorithm. According to this hierarchy, the first step is to decompose the multi-group density at time k-1 ^X^ jJ. This decomposition highlights the probability of the existence of an i-th group of spikes, since the estimated cardinality 81 varies over time: Jh Assuming the existence of the ith group of spikes, characterized by an estimated group parameter Ç, the ith group of spikes is then represented by: This representation allows us to perform a second decomposition separating the probability density function. On 'C, the group parameter that translates the uncertainty around the estimated value of this group parameter and the multi-spike density at the past time ^XjÇ J ' conditionally defined at the parameter of band The different components, > (XÏF > ( FV then do the object of a prediction and an update taking into account the measurements at the current time Z^.

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[0171] This prediction implements a Bayesian filter incorporating a plurality of PHD filters ("probability hypothesis density filter") as described in the previously cited article. The PHD filters are responsible for predicting and updating group tracking, i.e., nk-^kl(X^i) VerS 11 y a Un fÜtre PHD Per group' For each group, by combining all the velocity estimates of the group's spikes, we estimate the density on the group parameter, i.e. r$ ( F 1. The filter enabling this estimation is the highest hierarchical level filter, the LMB filter (“labeled multi-Bemoulli”) in the example. Finally, depending on whether the hypothesis of group 1 was supported, presumably by Zk, the probability of existence of group 1 is updated to obtain gives 56). xUA The multi-group, multi-spike density at the current time n^k(Xk) is then obtained by a second recomposition allowing from and ) to obtain XJ ' pu^S by a first recombination allowing from fJ to obtain . It should be noted that spike trails persist within the tracking of spike groups. Each spike trail is fed by all plots at the current time. In practice, however, improbable cases are not fully calculated. One output of the algorithm is the calculation of the distribution over the number of groups p(m). This distribution can be interpreted as an indicator of the nature of the sea clutter: calm sea (domain DI of [Fig.5]), oceanic clutter (domain D2 of [Fig.5]) or atypical clutter (domain D3 of [Fig.5]). Interpreting the nature of the sea clutter can have concrete implications. The presence of atypical clutter, in particular, can lead to adjustments in the parameters of other radar processing chains, notably via module 5, and adjustments to the parameters of detector 2. Spike group tracking can be used alone or in combination with other processing, including classical recognition and classification approaches, to incorporate information on the nature of echoes to enhance radar and / or false alarm control processing in a target detection application. Spike group tracking can be placed in parallel and / or in series with these other treatments.

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[0180]

[0181] The present invention can interface with any chain that displays preplots or primary plots and confirmations of these plots or confirmed plots, it being understood that it is a matter of filtering spikes. The invention has applications in systems embedded on board aircraft, surface ships, submarines, satellites, and more generally any platform requiring target detection / identification against a cluttered sea background. The parameter used to group the spikes derives from the physical phenomenon underlying their formation. Since the spikes are the result of waves that are themselves part of one or more swell trains, speed and / or period are usable parameters for grouping. In the case where the common parameter used as a grouping criterion is the period (or wavelength) of the wave train, the wave fronts are considered to be globally orthogonal to the velocity vector of the wave train. However, the shape of the wave front can be a straight line perpendicular to the velocity vector of the swell train in the case of a plane wave front (established phenomenon) or a kind of arc of a circle in the case of a spherical wave front (transient phenomenon). The positions of the L1 list plots are first projected by group onto the axis defined by the velocity vector of the spike group. If a pattern appears with clusters of bumps at certain points along the axis, the hypothesis of a plane wave front can be validated. The wave period can be estimated from the distance between the clusters of bumps along this axis. If this is not the case, the plot projection operation becomes more complex. For example, projections can be made along several axes, corresponding to the local direction of the velocity vector of the spike group. The wave front is thus locally a straight line, and the period of the wave train can then be estimated locally. The local periods are then recombined to obtain an overall period estimate. The projection operation is used to initialize the common wavelength parameter used in group tracking through the density y as a function From this density assumption, tracking calculates the likelihood of the measurements, i.e. the positions of the L1 plots using the projection models defined above. It should be noted that the value of the grouping parameter is estimated during spike group tracking.

[0182] In the case of speed, a wave breaks at time k, and gives a first plot of measured position (xl,yl) on the surface of the sea. At time k+1, this wave gives a second plot of measured position (x2, y2).

[0183] The spike group tracking algorithm provides a more accurate estimate than this crude calculation.

[0184] If we consider a second wave break, with measurements (xl', yl') and (x2', y2'), the respective velocity vectors, [vx, vy] and [vx', vy'] are very close.

[0185] By multiplying the measurements, sometimes over N revisit times, a spike group velocity is estimated.

[0186] The use of a radar in Doppler mode provides a measurement of the relative radial velocity, which can feed into the velocity estimation, but which must be clearly differentiated from the estimated velocity of the phenomenon causing the spikes.

[0187] The "series" of measurements do not occur simultaneously in the sense that one wave break may occur in a given time interval and another wave break may occur in a different interval. The velocity vectors are, however, close, and the group tracking algorithm allows them to be identified as belonging to the same group.

Claims

Demands

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically controlling false alarms in a list of input plots corresponding to an output of a detection processing method operating on a radar signal delivered by a maritime observation radar, the method being characterized in that it implements a tracking process enabling the identification of plots in the list of plots likely to correspond to a spike, the tracking process being a hierarchical tracking process consisting, at the lowest level, of tracking spikes, and, at the highest level, of tracking groups of spikes, the tracking of spikes at the lowest level being carried out conditionally at the highest level according to a common parameter characteristic of each group of spikes track.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking processing is carried out by implementing a multi-group multi-spike tracking algorithm, the output of said algorithm being an estimated high-level random finite set (X), said set indicating in particular a likelihood that a plot from the list of plots corresponds to a spike.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the characteristic parameter is a spike group velocity and / or a spike group wavelength.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a spike is a phenomenon on the surface of the sea which gives rise to one or more strong radar echoes, these radar echoes leading to the generation of primary spikes.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tracking treatment is based on the assumption that the spikes result from one or more wave trains.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the list of pads is a list of primary pads delivered at the output of the detection processing method or a list of secondary pads delivered at the output of another automatic false alarm control method.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, delivering a list of spike pads (LS), each pad in the list of pads of spikes having a likelihood greater than a predefined cutoff threshold.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein a stud from the list of stud spikes is characterized by at least one position and advantageously by a velocity, a likelihood of corresponding to a spike, a cardinality of a group of spikes to which the stud in question belongs, and / or a persistence of a spike track to which the stud in question belongs.

9. A method for processing a radar signal delivered by a maritime observation radar, characterized in that it comprises: - applying a detection processing method to the radar signal to produce a list of primary plots; - applying a set of automatic false alarm control methods to confirm the list of primary plots and obtain a list of confirmed plots; - applying a target tracking method from the list of confirmed plots and / or adjusting configuration parameters of the detection processing method according to the result of the automatic false alarm control method, said set of automatic false alarm control methods comprising at least one method conforming to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer program comprising software instructions which, when executed by a computer in a radar system, implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.