A Novel Tracking Algorithm Based on Waveform Selection for Maneuvering Targets in Clutter

The cognition radar utilizes the dynamic waveform configuration to adapt to the environment to improve tracking performance. A novel tracking algorithm based on waveform selection is proposed to address the maneuvering aircraft tracking problem in clutter. Based on the modified current statistical (MCS) model, the modified probabilistic data association filter (MPDAF) is integrated with the square-root cubature Kalman filter (SCKF) to deal with the nonlinear measurement and the clutter. Additionally, the waveform library is established by applying the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) to a base waveform, and a direct method is proposed to select the optimal waveform to minimize the posterior state error covariance matrix. The simulation results showed that, compared with the filters with the fixed waveform as well as the state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieved higher estimation precision and lower track loss percentage while maintaining a low computational burden.