Expression of Interest SEC-16-BES-2017: Through-Foliage Detection, Including in the Outermost

Expression of Interest –SEC-16-BES-2017:
Through-foliage detection, including in the outermost regions of the EU

ADVANCED RADAR BORDER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR THROUGH-FOLIAGE OBJECTS DETECTION
BASED ON BISPECTRAL SIGNAL PROCESSING ALGORITHMS

Project aim is to develop, validate and demonstrate Advanced Radar Border Surveillance System, which guarantee reliable through-foliage detection, recognition and classification of moving objects as a result of novel robust bispectrum-based signal processing technique application.

State-of-the-art radar automatic target recognition (ATR) systems commonly exploit only energy-based classification features extracted from radar backscattering. In case of through-foliage radar target detection, the signal backscattered by the target objectis completely contaminated by the vegetationclutter interference contribution. As a result, it is impossible to detect and recognize the object in through-foliage environment.

In contrast, bispectrum-based signal processing strategyallows extracting and usingboth energyand phase information contained in radar backscattering.As a result, bispectrum-based signal processing techniqueprovides smoothingof vegetation clutter interference that doesn’t contain phase-coupled contributions and, at the same time, extracting phase-coupled contributions caused by target object.Therefore, in case of through-foliage detection,specific signal processing algorithms are able to suppress considerably vegetation clutter interference contribution and to ensure reliable object detection with low false alarms rate(see figures below).Moreover, application of bispectrum-based signal processing strategy(i) doesn’t require any modifications of radar design/performances, just a signal processing ATR system, and (ii) compatible with wide range of ground surveillance or airborne radars.

Project idea is to use bispectrum-based signal processing strategy to radically improve surveillance technologies.

Project scope will cover: (i) development of efficient bispectrum-based signal processing algorithms and relevant ATR software for widely-used radars; (ii) development/validation/demonstration of border surveillance system components (on-ground and airborne radars, data processing system, etc.) in relevant environment; (iii) formulation of conceptual border surveillance system (incl. radar performances, quantity, location, complementarity, etc.) for selected EU outermost regions (case-studies).

Commercialization of project results (i.e. innovative bispectrum-based signal processing algorithms and corresponding software; prototypes of border surveillance system components; radar border surveillance system concept) will improve EU border surveillance and search-and-rescue capabilities in forested regions and facilitate protection of EU frontiers against penetration of illegal migrants.

Available competences and capabilities: KhAI team has long-term theoretical+practical experience* in bispectrum-based data processing for ground, aerial and marine targets detection and classification. Available homodyne polarimetric radars operate in both cm and mm range and can be used for in-situ target detection in areas covered by vegetation layer, i.e. trees and bushes.

Coordinator and partners sought:We are looking for cooperation with research teams, ATR systems/equipment manufacturers, ATR software developers and EU border surveillance authorities tocreate a consortium and submit a proposal aimed on improvement of EU borders protection.

Project details: RIA (TRL 5-6), indicative budget – 8 M€, indicative timetable – 2018-2020.

Time-frequency radar signatures for through-foliage detection of walking man:
a) energy-based approach; b) bispectrum-based approach. / Bicoherence radar signature for through-foliage detection of walking man: A – torso;
B,C,D - other human body parts (foots, arms)
Contacts: / Copy to:
Prof. Alexander TOTSKY
Department of Reception, Transmitting and Signal Processing
National Aerospace University “KhAI”, Ukraine
E-mail:
www: / Dr. LinaSmovziuk
International R&D projects manager
National Aerospace University “KhAI”, Ukraine
E-mail:
Phone: +38 057 788 40 22

* Key publication: “Bispectrum-based methods and algorithms in applications for radar, telecommunication signal processing and digital image reconstruction” ISBN 978-3-11-037456-8, 2015, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Munich/Boston, 199p.