A study on characteristic indexesof railway ballast bed underhigh-frequency radar

Purpose–In this paper,a high-frequency radar test system was used to collect the data of clean ballast bed and fouled ballast bed of ballasted tracks,respectively,for a quantitative evaluation of the condition of railway ballast bed.Design/methodology/approach–Based on original radar signals,the time–frequency characteristics of radar signals were analyzed,five ballast bed condition characteristic indexes were proposed,including the frequency domain integral area,scanning area,number of intersections with the time axis,number of timedomain inflection points and amplitude envelope obtained by Hilbert transform,and the effectiveness and sensitivity of the indexes were analyzed.Findings–The thickness of ballast bed tested at the sleep bottom by high-frequency radar is up to 55 cm,which meets the requirements of ballast bed detection.Compared with clean ballast bed,the values of the five indexes of fouled ballast bed are larger,and the five indexes could effectively show the condition of the ballast bed.The computational efficiency of amplitude envelope obtained by Hilbert transform is 140 s$km
1,and the computational efficiency of other indexes is 5 s$km
1.The amplitude envelopes obtained by Hilbert transform in the subgrade sections and tunnel sections are the most sensitive,followed by scanning area.The number of intersections with the time axis in the bridge sections was the most sensitive,followed by the scanning area.The scanning area can adapt to different substructures such as subgrade,bridges and tunnels,with high comprehensive sensitivity.Originality/value–The research can provide appropriate characteristic indexes from the high-frequency radar original signal to quantitatively evaluate ballast bed condition under different substructures.

Vessel fusion tracking with a dual-frequency high-frequency surface wave radar and calibrated by an automatic identification system

High-frequency surface wave radar（HFSWR） and automatic identification system（AIS） are the two most important sensors used for vessel tracking.The HFSWR can be applied to tracking all vessels in a detection area,while the AIS is usually used to verify the information of cooperative vessels.Because of interference from sea clutter,employing single-frequency HFSWR for vessel tracking may obscure vessels located in the blind zones of Bragg peaks.Analyzing changes in the detection frequencies constitutes an effective method for addressing this deficiency.A solution consisting of vessel fusion tracking is proposed using dual-frequency HFSWR data calibrated by the AIS.Since different systematic biases exist between HFSWR frequency measurements and AIS measurements,AIS information is used to estimate and correct the HFSWR systematic biases at each frequency.First,AIS point measurements for cooperative vessels are associated with the HFSWR measurements using a JVC assignment algorithm.From the association results of the cooperative vessels,the systematic biases in the dualfrequency HFSWR data are estimated and corrected.Then,based on the corrected dual-frequency HFSWR data,the vessels are tracked using a dual-frequency fusion joint probabilistic data association（JPDA）-unscented Kalman filter（UKF） algorithm.Experimental results using real-life detection data show that the proposed method is efficient at tracking vessels in real time and can improve the tracking capability and accuracy compared with tracking processes involving single-frequency data.

Mapping wind by the first-order Bragg scattering of broad-beam high-frequency radar

Mapping wind with high-frequency(HF)radar is still a challenge.The existing second-order spectrum based wind speed extraction method has the problems of short detection distances and low angular resolution for broadbeam HF radar.To solve these problems,we turn to the first-order Bragg spectrum power and propose a space recursion method to map surface wind.One month of radar and buoy data are processed to build a wind spreading function model and a first-order spectrum power model describing the relationship between the maximum of first-order spectrum power and wind speed in different sea states.Based on the theoretical propagation attenuation model,the propagation attenuation is calculated approximately by the wind speed in the previous range cell to compensate for the first-order spectrum in the current range-azimuth cell.By using the compensated first-order spectrum,the final wind speed is extracted in each cell.The first-order spectrum and wind spreading function models are tested using one month of buoy data,which illustrates the applicability of the two models.The final wind vector map demonstrates the potential of the method.

Coordinate registration algorithms for over-the-horizon radar

Different from the other conventional radars, the over the horizon radar （OTHR） faces complicated nonlinear coordinate transform due to electromagnetic wave propagation and reflection in ionospheres. A significant problem is the phenomenon of multi-path propagation. Considering it, the coordinate registration algorithms of planar measurement model and spherical measurement model are respectively derived in detail. Noticeably, a new transforming expression of apparent azimuth and an integrated form of transforming expressions from measurement vector to ground state vector in coordinate registration algorithm of spherical measurement model are proposed. And then simulations are made to verify the correctness of the proposed algorithms and expression. Besides this, the transforming error rate of slant range, Doppler and apparent azimuth of the two kinds of models are given respectively. Then the quantitative analysis of error rate is also given. It can be drawn a conclusion that the coordinate registration algorithms of planar measurement model and spherical measurement model are both correct.

Investigation of system structure and information processing mechanism for cognitive skywave over-the-horizon radar

Based on the cognitive radar concept and the basic connotation of cognitive skywave over-the-horizon radar（SWOTHR）, the system structure and information processingmechanism about cognitive SWOTHR are researched. Amongthem, the hybrid network system architecture which is thedistributed configuration combining with the centralized cognition and its soft/hardware framework with the sense-detectionintegration are proposed, and the information processing framebased on the lens principle and its information processing flowwith receive-transmit joint adaption are designed, which buildand parse the work law for cognition and its self feedback adjustment with the lens focus model and five stages informationprocessing sequence. After that, the system simulation andthe performance analysis and comparison are provided, whichinitially proves the rationality and advantages of the proposedideas. Finally, four important development ideas of futureSWOTHR toward ＂high frequency intelligence information processing system＂ are discussed, which are scene information fusion, dynamic reconfigurable system, hierarchical and modulardesign, and sustainable development. Then the conclusion thatthe cognitive SWOTHR can cause the performance improvement is gotten.

Compatible Design of the System to Detect Ships and Airplanes with a Ground Wave Over-the-horizon Radar

This paper provides a design method based on a time-shared form, which obtains the compatibility of signal and the system for detecting both ships and airplanes. Then, it gives the structure diagram of the system and the chart diagram of signal processing. Finally, the continuity problem of signal modulation for ship detection is discussed.

A System of Signal Detection and Estimation for Ground Wave Over-The-Horizon Radar

Ground wave over-the-horizon radar(GW-OTHR) can detect the OTH moving targets on sea or at low altitude. This paper discusses the background for detecting a target with GW-OTHR, introduces the theory and implementation of the signal detection and estimation system which has the parallel processing function, and gives some experimental results. The results of GW-OTHR experiments show that this system can successfully detect and estimate the above-mentioned targets.

A frequency domain estimation and compensation method for system synchronization parameters of distributed-HFSWR

To analyze the influence of time synchronization error,phase synchronization error,frequency synchronization error,internal delay of the transceiver system,and range error and angle error between the unit radars on the target detection performance,firstly,a spatial detection model of distributed high-frequency surface wave radar(distributed-HFSWR)is established in this paper.In this model,a method for accurate extraction of direct wave spectrum based on curve fitting is proposed to obtain accurate system internal delay and frequency synchronization error under complex electromagnetic environment background and low signal to noise ratio(SNR),and to compensate for the shift of range and Doppler frequency caused by time-frequency synchronization error.The direct wave component is extracted from the spectrum,the range estimation error and Doppler estimation error are reduced by the method of curve fitting,and the fitting accuracy of the parameters is improved.Then,the influence of frequency synchronization error on target range and radial Doppler velocity is quantitatively analyzed.The relationship between frequency synchronization error and radial Doppler velocity shift and range shift is given.Finally,the system synchronization parameters of the trial distributed-HFSWR are obtained by the proposed spectrum extraction method based on curve fitting,the experimental data is compensated to correct the shift of the target,and finally the correct target parameter information is obtained.Simulations and experimental results demonstrate the superiority and correctness of the proposed method,theoretical derivation and detection model proposed in this paper.

Eye on the Sky: A UAP Research and Field Study off New York’s Long Island Coast

A ten-month field research study was meticulously conducted at Robert Moses State Park (RMSP) on the south shore of Long Island, NY. The objective was to determine if aerial phenomena of an unknown nature exist over a coastal location and to characterize their properties and behaviors. Primary and secondary field observation methods were utilized in this data-centric study. Forensic engineering principles and methodologies guided the study. The challenges set forward were object detection, observation, and characterization, where multispectral electro-optical devices and radar were employed due to limited visual acuity and intermittent presentation of the phenomena. The primary means of detection utilized a 3 cm X-band radar operating in two scan geometries, the X- and Y-axis. Multispectral electro-optical devices were utilized as a secondary means of detection and identification. Data was emphasized using HF and LF detectors and spectrum analyzers incorporating EM, ultrasonic, magnetic, and RF field transducers to record spectral data in these domains. Data collection concentrated on characterizing VIS, NIR, SWIR, LWIR, UVA, UVB, UVC, and the higher energy spectral range of ionizing radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, and X-ray) recorded by Geiger-Müller counters as well as special purpose semiconductor diode sensors.

Use of piecewise polynomial phase modeling to compensate ionospheric phase contamination in skywave radar systems

Recognition and correction of ionospheric phase path contamination is a vital part of the global radar signal processing sequence. A number of model-based correction algorithms have been developed to deal with the radar performance degradation due to the ionospheric distortion and contamination. This paper addresses a novel parametric estimation and compensation method based on High-order Ambiguity Function (HAF) to solve the problem of phase path contamination of HF skywave radar signals. When signal-to-noise ratio and data sequence available satisfy the predefined conditions, the ionospheric phase path contamination may be modeled by a polynomial phase signal (PPS). As a new parametric tool for analyzing the PPS, HAF is introduced to estimate parameters of the polynomial-phase model and reconstruct the correction signal. Using the reconstructed correction signal, compensation can be performed before coherent integration so that the original echo spectrum can be restored. A piecewise scheme is proposed to track rapid variation of the phase contamination based on HAF method, and it can remove the Doppler spread effect caused by the ionosphere nonstationarity. Simulation and experimental results are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

Performance of Order-statistics Constant-false-alarm-rate Detector with Noncoherent Integration and Its Application to OTH Radar

Noncoherent integration is often ed for approving performance in detection of radar signal. Order-statistics constant false alarm rate (OS-CFAR) detector has some advantages in clutter and multiple target situations. AnOS-CFAN detector with noncoherent integration after Square law envelope detector is presented and an analysis of detection performance for the chi-Square family of Swerling fluctuating targets is given. Its application to the high frequency(HF) ground wave over-the-horizon (OTH) radar is discussed as well.

A New Location Precision Model for Multi-Static Over-the-Horizon Radar System

In this paper, a multi-static system working in an active way is made up of ionospheric oblique backscatter sounding system （IOBSS） and two separate receiving stations, which adopts discontinuous wave mechanism. We have advanced a new model that contains skywave condition to locate over-the-horizon targets. We use a single quasi-parabolic （QP） ionosphere model and an analytic ray-tracing program to obtain the coordinate registration （CR） index, which changes skywave group range to ground range. Also, IOBSS and other two receiving stations use this distance information to locate the target which is far away from the system. The analytic expression for the geometric dilution of precision （GDOP） under different station deployments are obtained, which shows GDOP is influenced by the system measurement precision, the stations＇ coordinates, and CR index. By computer simulation, we find that GDOP of isosceles right triangle deployment is smaller than that of line deployment and location precision will be improved with increasing base line length. The results indicate that this model is practicable with an acceptable range of error （less than 500 m under certain conditions in this paper）.

Observation and modeling of tide- and wind-induced surface currents in Galway Bay

A high-frequency radar system has been deployed in Galway Bay, a semi-enclosed bay on the west coast of Ireland. The system provides surface currents with fine spatial resolution every hour. Prior to its use for model validation, the accuracy of the radar data was verified through comparison with measurements from acoustic Doppler current profilers （ADCPs） and a good correlation between time series of surface current speeds and directions obtained from radar data and ADCP data. Since Galway Bay is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, it is subject to relatively windy conditions, and surface currents are therefore strongly wind-driven. With a view to assimilating the radar data for forecasting purposes, a three-dimensional numerical model of Galway Bay, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code （EFDC）, was developed based on a terrain-following vertical （sigma） coordinate system. This study shows that the performance and accuracy of the numerical model, particularly with regard to tide- and wind-induced surface currents, are sensitive to the vertical layer structure. Results of five models with different layer structures are presented and compared with radar measurements. A variable vertical structure with thin layers at the bottom and the surface and thicker layers in the middle of the water column was found to be the optimal layer structure for reproduction of tideand wind-induced surface currents. This structure ensures that wind shear can properly propagate from the surface layer to the sub-surface layers, thereby ensuring that wind forcing is not overdamped by tidal forcing. The vertical layer structure affects not only the velocities at the surface layer but also the velocities further down in the water column.

Parameter estimation of maneuvering targets in OTHR based on sparse time-frequency representation

This paper proposes a new method for estimating the parameter of maneuvering targets based on sparse time-frequency transform in over-the-horizon radar（OTHR）. In this method, the sparse time-frequency distribution of the radar echo is obtained by solving a sparse optimization problem based on the short-time Fourier transform. Then Hough transform is employed to estimate the parameter of the targets. The proposed algorithm has the following advantages： Compared with the Wigner-Hough transform method, the computational complexity of the sparse optimization is low due to the application of fast Fourier transform（FFT）. And the computational cost of Hough transform is also greatly reduced because of the sparsity of the time-frequency distribution. Compared with the high order ambiguity function（HAF） method, the proposed method improves in terms of precision and robustness to noise. Simulation results show that compared with the HAF method, the required SNR and relative mean square error are 8 dB lower and 50 dB lower respectively in the proposed method. While processing the field experiment data, the execution time of Hough transform in the proposed method is only 4% of the Wigner-Hough transform method.

Stealth performance evaluation of helicopter against airborne early warning radar considering trimming control

Airborne pulse Doppler radar is a key threat to the military helicopter,and assessing the stealth performance of helicopter against airborne early warning radar is helpful to the helicopter’s stealth design and operational planning.In this paper,the Shooting and Bouncing Ray(SBR)and Uniform Theory of Diffraction(UTD)based high-frequency algorithms are used to calculate the Radar Cross Section(RCS)of helicopter,and the radar range equations are used to evaluate the stealth performance.In order to account for the effects of rotor flapping motions during actual flight,the aerodynamics model of whole helicopter is established and the attitudes and controls of helicopter at different flight states are trimmed and input into the RCS calculation module.The effects of helicopter flight speed,flying direction and operational environment on radar stealth performance are studied in focus.It is demonstrated by the results that the trimming control does have a great influence of more than 5 dB on the RCS of helicopter,and the introduction of the trim calculation brings the helicopter’s returns calculation closer to the reality.Variations in flight speed lead to the changes in the stealth performance of helicopter against Early Warning Aircraft(EWA),and the helicopter flight speed can be planned according to the operational requirements to minimize exposure distance or exposure time.Variations in flying direction mainly affect the detection properties of helicopter returns,and flying in the same direction with EWA usually gives the helicopter better low-observability than flying head-on.Variations in operational environment mainly affect the radar detection performance and the sensitivity of the detection performance to external factors;the same amount of change in some external factor causes a different amount of change in the helicopter’s detectability in different environments.

Characteristics of high frequency radio wave propagated in heated ionospheric regions

A two-dimensional Ohm heating theoretic model in the magnetizing ionosphere and a ray-tracing model in a discrete ionosphere background are used to analyze quantitatively the characteristics(mainly the Doppler shift and the phase shift)of the over-the-horizon radar(OTHR)wave,which propagates through the ionospheric region heated by high frequency radio wave.The simulation results about the Doppler and the phase shift are obtained within two minutes after the heater is on.Preliminary conclusions are given by comparing the numerical results with experimental data.