Radar Target Processing Reduction Using Cooperative Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar systems face significant processing challenges when tracking multiple aircraft, both cooperative and non-cooperative, due to the need to process both types of targets simultaneously, which increases computational requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system that processes inputs from cooperative surveillance sources and radar devices to separate and remove cooperative target information from radar outputs, generating a modified radar output that focuses on non-cooperative targets only, thereby reducing processing demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radar systems track both cooperative and non-cooperative targets simultaneously, then comprehensive surveillance coverage is improved, but processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the target tracking process into two distinct processing paths: one for cooperative targets using transponder/ADS-B data, and another for non-cooperative targets using radar data only. The processor selectively applies different processing algorithms to each target type, isolating the computationally intensive radar processing to only non-cooperative targets while handling cooperative targets through simpler data fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts cooperative target information from the combined radar and transponder/ADS-B data stream before processing. By identifying and removing cooperative targets from the radar processing pipeline, the system eliminates unnecessary computational overhead associated with processing radar returns from targets that have easier-to-track cooperative transponders.
2Measurement precision
If radar processing is applied to all detected targets, then tracking accuracy is maintained, but computational cost scales with target quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial processing by using radar processing only when necessary - specifically for non-cooperative targets that lack transponder/ADS-B equipment. For cooperative targets, the system uses only the simpler transponder data processing, applying radar processing selectively rather than universally to all targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters based on target characteristics. When a target is identified as cooperative (having transponder/ADS-B), the system switches to a low-computation processing mode using only transponder data. When a target is non-cooperative, the system activates the full radar processing mode, dynamically adjusting computational effort based on target type.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for reducing radar target processing. An example system (20) include a processor (26) configured to receive a first input from a cooperative surveillance source (22) and a second input from a radar device (24). The first input includes cooperative target information, the second input includes cooperative and non-cooperative target information, and the processor is configured to process the first and second inputs to remove cooperative target information from the second input based on the first input to generate a modified radar output for use by an output device (32). The methods include receiving a first input including cooperative target information from a cooperative surveillance source, receiving a second input including cooperative and non-cooperative target information from a radar device, processing the first and second inputs to remove cooperative target information from the second input based on the first input, and generating a modified radar output based on the processed first and second inputs.