Maneuvering Target Detection Algorithm Based on Improved Time-frequency Analysis Method in Skywave Radar

In Over-The-Horizon Radar (OTHR), the maneuvering target detection algorithms based on time- frequency analysis methods have the advantage of low signal to noise ratio requirement and high parameter estimation precision. However, the calculation amount of traditional time-frequency analysis methods is large and it is difficult to meet the requirement of engineering application. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new time-frequency analysis method by constructing the joint time-frequency rate domain and calculating the integral value along the time axis to achieve maneuvering target detection and parameter estimation. Due to the special integral path, the proposed algorithm avoids the use of Hough transform. It can reduce the computation amount and make it meet the practical requirement. Simulation results show that the algorithm achieves better detection effect in low SNR, lower computation complexity and higher estimation accuracy. In addition, the frequency rate is accumulated according to different time, so it can suppress cross terms caused by multiple maneuvering targets and reduce false alarm rate.