An efficient multi-target track-before-detect algorithm for low PRF surveillance radars

In this paper, we address the problem of simultaneously detecting and tracking multiple targets using dynamic programming (DP) based track-before-detect (DP-TBD) with reference to low pulse repetition frequency (PRF) surveillance radars. The Doppler ambiguity phenomenon in the low PRF radars is the primary cause which complicates the tracking process. In the range-apparent Doppler plane, target states with different velocities may correspond to the same measurement, thus multiple modes are formed in the posterior density, resulting in a more challenging estimation problem. In this work, we propose an efficient multi-target DP-TBD algorithm suitable for low PRF surveillance radars. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively repress the ghost trajectories due to the multi-modality of posterior density and correctly estimate the true target states and target number.