Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea

An intelligent approach is proposed and investigated in this paper for the detection of ultra-low-altitude sea-skimming moving targets for airborne pulse Doppler radar. Without suppressing interferences, the proposed method uses both target and multipath information for detection based on their dist...

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Main Authors: Zhaolong Wang, Xiaokuan Zhang, Weike Feng, Binfeng Zong, Tong Wang, Cheng Qi, Xixi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4773
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author Zhaolong Wang
Xiaokuan Zhang
Weike Feng
Binfeng Zong
Tong Wang
Cheng Qi
Xixi Chen
author_facet Zhaolong Wang
Xiaokuan Zhang
Weike Feng
Binfeng Zong
Tong Wang
Cheng Qi
Xixi Chen
author_sort Zhaolong Wang
collection DOAJ
description An intelligent approach is proposed and investigated in this paper for the detection of ultra-low-altitude sea-skimming moving targets for airborne pulse Doppler radar. Without suppressing interferences, the proposed method uses both target and multipath information for detection based on their distinguishable image features and deep learning (DL) techniques. First, the image features of the target, multipath, and sea clutter in the real-measured range-Doppler (RD) map are analyzed, based on which the target and multipath are defined together as the generalized target. Then, based on the composite electromagnetic scattering mechanism of the target and the ocean surface, a scattering-based echo generation model is established and validated to generate sufficient data for DL network training. Finally, the RD features of the generalized target are learned by training the DL-based target detector, such as you-only-look-once version 7 (YOLOv7) and Faster R-CNN. The detection results show the high performance of the proposed method on both simulated and real-measured data without suppressing interferences (e.g., clutter, jamming, and noise). In particular, even if the target is submerged in clutter, the target can still be detected by the proposed method based on the multipath feature.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2072-4292
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-8d6951a913584a9ba9dd9f6eab1c8d912024-12-27T14:51:11ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-12-011624477310.3390/rs16244773Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the SeaZhaolong Wang0Xiaokuan Zhang1Weike Feng2Binfeng Zong3Tong Wang4Cheng Qi5Xixi Chen6Air Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAir Defense and Antimissile School, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an 710051, ChinaAn intelligent approach is proposed and investigated in this paper for the detection of ultra-low-altitude sea-skimming moving targets for airborne pulse Doppler radar. Without suppressing interferences, the proposed method uses both target and multipath information for detection based on their distinguishable image features and deep learning (DL) techniques. First, the image features of the target, multipath, and sea clutter in the real-measured range-Doppler (RD) map are analyzed, based on which the target and multipath are defined together as the generalized target. Then, based on the composite electromagnetic scattering mechanism of the target and the ocean surface, a scattering-based echo generation model is established and validated to generate sufficient data for DL network training. Finally, the RD features of the generalized target are learned by training the DL-based target detector, such as you-only-look-once version 7 (YOLOv7) and Faster R-CNN. The detection results show the high performance of the proposed method on both simulated and real-measured data without suppressing interferences (e.g., clutter, jamming, and noise). In particular, even if the target is submerged in clutter, the target can still be detected by the proposed method based on the multipath feature.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4773airborne radardeep learningmoving target detectionmultipath featurerange-Doppler map
spellingShingle Zhaolong Wang
Xiaokuan Zhang
Weike Feng
Binfeng Zong
Tong Wang
Cheng Qi
Xixi Chen
Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
Remote Sensing
airborne radar
deep learning
moving target detection
multipath feature
range-Doppler map
title Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
title_full Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
title_fullStr Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
title_full_unstemmed Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
title_short Multipath and Deep Learning-Based Detection of Ultra-Low Moving Targets Above the Sea
title_sort multipath and deep learning based detection of ultra low moving targets above the sea
topic airborne radar
deep learning
moving target detection
multipath feature
range-Doppler map
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/24/4773
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AT binfengzong multipathanddeeplearningbaseddetectionofultralowmovingtargetsabovethesea
AT tongwang multipathanddeeplearningbaseddetectionofultralowmovingtargetsabovethesea
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