Methods for improving low-angle, low-altitude radar tracking accuracy

Abstract

This thesis studies the problem of low-angle, low-altitude target tracking where the presence of multipath causes large angle errors. The problem is examined for a low sidelobe monopulse radar over a flat earth. A detailed multipath model is used to simulate the reflecting surface and the reflected signal is included in the monopulse processing simulation. Using this model the tracking error is obtained, and two multipath error reduction techniques are evaluated. The first method uses frequency agility to measure the angle over a wide frequency range. By averaging the results of many frequencies, the angle estimate can be significantly improved over that of a single frequency. The second method is referred to is difference beam phase toggling. By flipping the difference beam phase by 180 deg for two subsequent pulses, the return from a reflected path can be inside to cancel