A simple algorithm for broadband detection and sorting

A discussion is presented of an approach for automating the detection and sorting of multiple contacts in a multibeam, broadband detection system. The algorithm uses an ambiguity surface that is generated by integrating the existing broadband detection outputs according to predefined hypotheses of potential contact bearing and bearing rate. Thresholding the surface and grouping points above the threshold identifies the contacts. The sorting algorithm eliminates multiple detections of the same contact and generates a track history based on the centroid bearing and the bearing rate of the detected contacts