The Performance Comparison of Wigner-Based Radar Target Classification Methods for Resonance Region Targets

Abstract

This study includes the performance comparison of the target classification methods based on Wigner distribution in the resonance scattering region where the dimensions of the target close to wavelengths. In the suggested method important optimum late-time intervals of the scattered signals are theoretically determined by using the Wigner energy maps of the signals. Then targets' feature vectors are determined for each target by using the Wigner distributions over the selected late-time region at several different reference aspects and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). These vectors are used for classification in test stage. When it is compared with the methods in literature the suggested method has important features such as not being required to find pole numbers and values with high sensitivity and being independent from aspect angles. In this study tests are realized with lossless dielectric spheres which are geometrically simple but complex targets in terms of scattering mechanism and the method containing target-specific optimum late-time intervals is especially found as more successful.