Real-time simulation of moving groundtarget signatures

Automatic target recognition (ATR) and feature-aided tracking (FAT) algorithms that use one-dimensional (1-D) high range resolution (HRR) profiles require unique or distinguishable target features. This paper explores the use of Xpatch extracted scattering centers to generate synthetic moving ground target signatures. The goal is to develop a real-time prediction capability for generating moving ground target signatures to facilitate the determination of unique and distinguishable target features. The repository of moving ground target signatures is extremely limited in target variation, target articulation, and aspect and illumination angle coverage. The development of a real-time moving target signature capability that provides first order moving target signature will facilitate the development of features and their analysis. The proposed moving target signature simulation is described in detail and includes both the strengths and weaknesses of using a scattering center approach for generation of moving target signatures.