Radar Micro-Doppler Mini-UAV Classification using Spectrograms and Cepstrograms

The radar micro-Doppler signature of a target is determined by parts of the target moving or rotating in addition to the main body motion. The relative motion of these parts is characteristic for different classes of targets, e.g. the flapping motion of a bird’s wings versus the spinning of propeller blades. In the present study, the micro...

Behavior Subtraction applied to radar

An algorithm developed for optical images has been applied to radar data. The algorithm, Behavior Subtraction, is based on capturing the dynamics of a scene and detecting anomalous behavior. The radar application is the detection of small surface targets at sea. The sea surface yields the expected stable background dynamics, while a surface...

Classification of small UAVs and birds by micro-Doppler signatures

The popularity of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is increasing. Therefore, the importance of security systems able to detect and classify them is increasing as well. In this paper, we propose a new approach for UAVs classification using continuous wave radar or high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) pulse radars. We consider all steps of...

FMCW radar system for detection and classification of small vessels in high sea state conditions

The ROCKWELL COLLINS France radar department is currently developing a FMCW radar system for the detection and the classification of small maritime targets in the frame of the SISMARIS, SARGOS & I2C projects. Several test campaigns have been conducted since 2009 to develop a sensor as well as an innovating signal processing chain which provides...

Discrimination of classes of ships for aided recognition in a coastal environment

For naval operations in a coastal environment, detection of boats is not sufficient. When doing surveillance near a supposedly friendly coast, or self protection in a harbor, it is important to find the one object that means harm, among many others that do not. For this, it is necessary to obtain information on the many observed targets, which...

Optical characteristics of small surface targets, measured in the False Bay, South Africa; June 2007

During the False Bay trial (June 2007), the performance of a set of three optical sensors was tested against several small surface targets in a coastal area: a hyperspectral camera, a camera with a rotating polarization filter and a high resolution camera. One objective was the validation of a contrast and clutter model for the visual spectral...

Application of heterogeneous multiple camera system with panoramic capabilities in a harbor environment

In a harbor environment threats like explosives-packed rubber boats, mine-carrying swimmers and divers must be detected in an early stage. This paper describes the integration and use of a heterogeneous multiple camera system with panoramic observation capabilities for detecting these small vessels in the Den Helder New Harbor in the Netherlands...

Results from the search-lidar demonstrator project for detection of small Sea-Surface targets

Coastal surveillance and naval operations in the littoral both have to deal with the threat of small sea-surface targets. These targets have a low radar cross-section and a low velocity that makes them hard to detect by radar. Typical threats include jet skis, FIAC's, and speedboats. Previous lidar measurements at the coast of the Netherlands...

Laser opportunities in new naval missions

Small maritime target detection through false color fusion

We present an algorithm that produces a fused false color representation of a combined multiband IR and visual imaging system for maritime applications. Multispectral IR imaging techniques are increasingly deployed in maritime operations, to detect floating mines or to find small dinghies and swimmers during search and rescue operations. However...

Discriminating small extended targets at sea from clutter and other classes of boats in infrared and visual light imagery

Operating in a coastal environment, with a multitude of boats of different sizes, detection of small extended targets is only one problem. A further difficulty is in discriminating detections of possible threats from alarms due to sea and coastal clutter, and from boats that are neutral for a specific operational task. Adding target features to...

Identification of Littoral Targets with a Laser Range Profiler

Naval operations in the littoral have to deal with threats at short range in cluttered environments with both neutral and hostile targets. On board naval vessels there is a need for fast identification, which is possible with a laser range profiler. Additionally, in a coast-surveillance scenario a laser range profiler can be used for...

Detection of small targets in a marine environment using laser radar

Small maritime targets, e.g., periscope tubes, jet skies, swimmers and small boats, are potential threats for naval ships under many conditions, but are difficult to detect with current radar systems due to their limited radar cross section and the presence of sea clutter. On the other hand, applications of lidar systems have shown that the...

New sonar waveforms for active torpedo warning using an LFAS system

Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) systems are originally designed for ASW purposes. Although their main purpose is detection of submarines, they can, if adjusted waveforms are transmitted, also be used for detection of small fast moving targets (torpedoes). In this study the Detection, Classification and Localisation performance of classical HFM...

Small Surface Target Detection with EO/IR Sensors

The detection of small surface targets at sea is an increasing requirement for warships. The present sensors on board do not provide the required detection probabilities for these low observable targets like small rubber boats, floating mines, periscopes, people etc. The reason for the low probability of detection is not only the low contrast...

Maritime Infrared Background Clutter

The detection of small targets in maritime infrared surveillance is hampered by the presence of clutter. Sea surface structure, reflection and emission changes related to incident angle variations and surface effects are standard features governing the clutter behavior. Also special effects as sun glint an horizon effects play an important role...

Multispectral maritime background and clutter effects on small surface target detection

This paper concerns multispectral backgrounds and clutter as they hamper the detection process of small surface targets. The variability of target contrast is shown for a number of meteorological conditions in the various spectral bands, for which new types of sensors have become available. It is shown that simultaneous framing with pixel co...