A vector neural network for emitter identification

This paper proposes a three-layer vector neural network (VNN) with a supervised learning algorithm suitable for signal classification in general, and for emitter identification (EID) in particular. The VNN can accept interval-value input data as well as scalar input data. The input features of the EID problems include the radio frequency, pulse width, and pulse repetition interval of a received emitter signal. Since the values of these features vary in interval ranges in accordance with a specific radar emitter, the VNN is proposed to process interval-value data in the EID problem. In the training phase, the interval values of the three features are presented to the input nodes of VNN. A new vector-type backpropagation learning algorithm is derived from an error function defined by the VNN´s actual output and the desired output indicating the correct emitter type of the corresponding feature intervals. The algorithm can tune the weights of VNN optimally to approximate the nonlinear mapping between a given training set of feature intervals and the corresponding set of desired emitter types. After training, the VNN can be used to identify the sensed scalar-value features from a real-time received emitter signal. A number of simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and identification capability of VNN, including the two-EID problem and the multi-EID problem with/without additive noise. The simulated results show that the proposed algorithm cannot only accelerate the convergence speed, but it can help avoid getting stuck in bad local minima and achieve higher classification rate.