(An) adaptive update-interval control of multi function radar for efficient tracking task scheduling

Abstract

Phased array radars (PAR) have capability to direct a beam into the specific direction without inertia and is possible to instantaneously control radar parameters to transform a beam. With the ability of phased array antenna, a single radar system with phased array antenna can perform a variety of functions by illuminating a corresponding beam into relevant direction depending on the tasks. One of the main function is tracking, which is to continuously chase target movement by intermittently steering a beam into the estimated target position, obtaining the measurement information, and updating the target state. As the tracking tasks are executed frequently and the dwell time for tracking beam is long, the tracking precision could be enhanced. However, the time for beam illumination is shared resource in which the other tasks such as surveillance and weapon guidance can be executed. Thus the frequent execution of tracking tasks will result in removing other task’s running opportunity. Therefore, the number of tracking task execution should be minimized while tracking accuracy is maintained within a certain threshold by updating frequently enough when it is necessary. In this paper, a new algorithm for controlling the update interval based on position residual is proposed in order to maintain tracking error within given threshold. By controlling the next update interval by proposed iterative equation, the short update interval is allocated to the maneuvering targets to prevent degradation of tracking quality and long update interval is allocated to the targets on constant-velocity movement to prevent waste of timing resource. As well, the update interval control considering target priority level is also proposed. Using the proposed algorithm mostly keeping the track error below given threshold, we designed a controlling method so that the threshold value can be determined by the target priority. In military purpose radar, threatening level of each target sho...