An optimal subspace projection in a time-frequency plane for chirp detection in a noisy environment

In this paper, we propose a new approach ensuring the detection of linear chirps in an underwater medium. This method is based on the use of a time-frequency transform, the Wigner-Ville transform, followed by a Radon transform. Doing so, we construct a new observation of the received signal, making a projection in the time-frequency domain ensuring a maximization of the received signal power. Next, using an optimal subspace projection, we apply a detector on this new observation. Results obtained on simulated and real data are proposed and discussed.