Approximate computation of DFT without performing any multiplications: Application to radar signal processing

In many radar problems it is not necessary to compute the ambiguity function in a perfect manner. In this article a new multiplication free algorithm for approximate computation of the ambiguity function is introduced. All multiplications (a × b) in the ambiguity function are replaced by an operator which computes sign(a × b)(|a| + |b|). The new transform is especially useful when the signal processing algorithm requires correlations. Ambiguity function in radar signal processing requires high number of correlations and DFT computations. This new additive operator enables an approximate computation of the ambiguity function without requiring any multiplications. Simulation examples involving passive radars are presented.