Optimized correlation algorithm for enhancing tracking performance in pulsed CW radar

Tracking performance of Radar is characterized by its Accuracy and maximum tracking range. Both of the parameters depend on the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the received signal. Improving the SNR of the received signal by using some signal processing techniques enhances the performance of the radar without any changes to the other subsystems of the Radar. There are various signal processing algorithms among which correlation and pulse integration are very popular and widely used. These algorithms should be implemented using suitable hardware to process the received signal in real time. The deadlines available for such processing are of the order one to two milli seconds. Therefore implementation of any signal-processing algorithm in real time is very critical and challenging. In this paper we propose design and implementation of an optimized correlation algorithm (correlator) with minimum computation time and hardware resources for a pulsed Continuous Wave (CW) radar using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Improvement in the radar tracking performance using this correlator is also presented.