Accuracy Estimate for Radar Cross Section Measurements of Targets Modelled by Multiple Independent Scatterers in Constant Clutter

摘要

The error bounds for accuracy of radar cross section (RCS) measurements of targets in clutter are examined in detail. Traditional error bounds are based on precision at every individual aspect angle and on two deterministic sources (target and clutter). In this thesis a model is developed that describes the target and clutter probabilistically. The requirement of accuracy at every point is replaced by a requirement for accuracy of a running average of measured RCS values. The probability distribution of the ratio of the averaged, measured RCS to the averaged, true, free space target RCS is calculated. The standard deviation of this ratio represents how much the averaged, measured RCS data diverages from the averaged, true, free space target RCS. The results show that accuracy improves for increasing signal to clutter ratios, and also for increasing levels of averaging. Even averaging as few as eleven points, this new measure is shown to give more confidence in the measured, averaged results than the traditional approach. (Author)