Phenomenology-based waveform design using Cramer-Rao theory

The Cramer Rao Bound (CRB) establishes a lower bound on the error variance of an unbiased parameter estimate [5]. We have derived CRBs for target parameter estimates using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and allow for spatial waveform diversity. The first application is to target reflectivity with the assumption that all scatterer positions are known. Using a standard scattering model we are able to verify theoretical results with numerical experiments. The development is then applied to target height, assuming the height and ground range are jointly estimated for all scatterers simultaneously. Here we show that height can in fact be estimated with vertical excursion in the aperture.

Duke Scholars

Author David J. Brady Electrical and Computer Engineering