Radar Parameter Estimation for Accelerating Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radar systems struggle to accurately detect and estimate the position, velocity, and acceleration of accelerating objects within typical integration times, especially when the object is accelerating, leading to inaccuracies in position detection.

Innovation Solution

A radar system that partitions the time frame into successive segments, applies a Doppler Fourier transform to each segment, selects hypotheses for velocity and acceleration, and calculates a Doppler index to extract components, combining them to generate a velocity and acceleration spectrum for accurate object parameter estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional radar processing is used within typical integration times, then the processing time is reduced, but the position detection accuracy deteriorates for accelerating objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidposition detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the time frame into multiple successive segments and applies Doppler Fourier transform to each segment separately. This segmentation allows the system to handle accelerating objects more accurately by capturing phase changes in smaller intervals, while still maintaining efficient processing through parallel or sequential segment analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the time frame is partitioned into multiple segments and Doppler Fourier transform is applied to each segment, then the position estimation accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary Doppler frequency bins based on calculated indices for each segment, rather than processing the entire frequency spectrum. This extraction approach reduces the amount of data that needs to be combined and processed, thereby reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining accurate position estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary calculations of Doppler indices and selects relevant frequency bins before combining segments. This preliminary action prepares the data in advance, making the subsequent combination and spectrum calculation more efficient and reducing the computational burden during the main processing stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If Doppler indices are calculated and frequency bins are selected for each segment, then the detection accuracy for accelerating objects is improved, but the computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcomputational load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by processing only the relevant frequency bins identified through Doppler indices rather than analyzing the complete frequency spectrum. This partial processing approach reduces computational load while maintaining sufficient detection accuracy for the application requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves accurate estimation of object parameters like position, velocity, and acceleration, reducing processing complexity and miss detection probabilities, while providing faster and more efficient object detection compared to conventional techniques.

Implementation Method 1

Radar systems may be used for detection and tracking of objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

a receiver configured to detect a return signal including reflections of a radar signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

apply a Doppler Fourier transform and calculate a complex value yk as a function of a plurality of Doppler frequencies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11693091B2Radar detection and parameter estimation of accelerating objects

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A system for estimating a parameter of an object includes a receiver configured to detect a return signal of a radar signal, and a processing device configured to sample the return signal to generate a series of signal samples, partition a time frame into a plurality of successive segments k, and for each segment k, apply a Doppler Fourier transform and calculate a complex value yk as a function of Doppler frequencies fD. The processing device is also configured to calculate an index based on an acceleration hypothesis and a velocity hypothesis of a set of hypotheses, and for each segment, select one or more Doppler frequency bins based on the index and extract components of the complex value yk (fD) associated with each selected Doppler frequency bin. The processing device is further configured to calculate a velocity and acceleration spectrum, and estimate an object parameter based on the spectrum.