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This thesis work consists of two research projects. The first project presented is on waveform design for car radars. These radars are used to detect other vehicles to avoid collision. In this project, we attempt to find the best waveform that distinguishes large objects from small ones. This helps the radar system reach more reliable decisions. We consider several models of the problem with varying complexity. For each model, we present optimization results calculated under various constraints regarding how the waveform is generated and how the reflected signal is processed. The results show that changing the radar waveform can result in better target classification. The second project is about digital-to-analog converter (DAC) linearization. Ideally, DACs have a linear input-output relation. In practice, however, this relation is nonlinear which may be harmful for many applications. A more linear input-output relation can be achieved by modifying the input to a DAC. This method, called predistortion, requires a good understanding of how DAC errors contribute to the nonlinearity. Assuming a simple DAC model, we investigate how different error functions lead to different types of nonlinearities through theoretical analyses and supporting computer simulations. We present our results in terms of frequency spectrum calculations. We show that the nonlinearity observed at the output strongly depends on how the error is modeled. These results are helpful in designing a predistorter for linearization.

Modern aircraft are getting more and better sensors. As a result of this, the pilots are getting moreinformation than they can handle. To solve this problem one can automate the information processingand instead provide the pilots with conclusions drawn from the sensor information. An aircraft’smovement can be used to determine which class (e.g. commercial aircraft, large military aircraftor fighter) it belongs to. This thesis focuses on comparing three classification schemes; a Bayesianclassification scheme with uniform priors, Transferable Belief Model and a Bayesian classificationscheme with entropic priors.The target is modeled by a jump Markov linear system that switches between different modes (flystraight, turn left, etc.) over time. A marginalized particle filter that spreads its particles over thepossible mode sequences is used for state estimation. Simulations show that the results from Bayesianclassification scheme with uniform priors and the Bayesian classification scheme with entropic priorsare almost identical. The results also show that the Transferable Belief Model is less decisive thanthe Bayesian classification schemes. This effect is argued to come from the least committed principlewithin the Transferable Belief Model. A fixed-lag smoothing algorithm is introduced to the filter andit is shown that the classification results are improved. The advantage of having a filter that remembersthe full mode sequence (such as the marginalized particle filter) and not just determines the currentmode (such as an interacting multiple model filter) is also discussed.

Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) Algorithm based and Wigner Distribution-Principal Component Analysis (WD-PCA) based classification techniques are very recently suggested resonance region approaches for electromagnetic target classification. In this thesis, performances of these two techniques will be compared concerning their robustness for noise and their capacity to handle large number of candidate targets. In this context, classifier design simulations will be demonstrated for target libraries containing conducting and dielectric spheres and for dielectric coated conducting spheres. Small scale aircraft targets modeled by thin conducting wires will also be used in classifier design demonstrations.

The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) is a type of neural network that forms a regular grid of neurons where clusters of neurons represent different classes of targets. The aim of this thesis is to design electromagnetic target classifiers by using the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) type artificial neural networks for dielectric and conducting objects with simple or complex geometries. Design simulations will be realized for perfect dielectric spheres and also for small-scaled aircraft targets modeled by thin conducting wires. The SOM classifiers will be designed by target features extracted from the scattered signals of targets at various aspects by using the Wigner distribution. Noise performance of classifiers will be improved by using slightly noisy input data in SOM training.

This study aims to present a sequential method for the classification of the autoregressive processes. Different from the conventional detectors having fixed sample size, the method uses Wald&rsquo / s sequential probability ratio test and has a variable sample size. It is shown that the suggested method produces the classification decisions much earlier than fixed sample size alternative on the average. The proposed method is extended to the case when processes have unknown variance. The effects of the unknown process variance on the algorithmperformance are examined. Finally, the suggested algorithm is applied to the classification of fixed and rotary wing targets. The average detection time and its relation with signal to noise ratio are examined.

This thesis applies an electromagnetic feature extraction technique to design electromagnetic target classifiers for conductors, dielectrics and dielectric coated conductors using their natural resonance related late-time scattered responses. Classifier databases contain scattered data at only a few aspects for each candidate target. The targets are dielectric spheres of varying sizes and refractive indices, perfectly conducting spheres varying sizes and dielectric coated conducting spheres of varying refractive indices and thickness in coating. The applied classifier design technique is suitable for real-time target classification because of the computational efficiency of feature extraction and decision making approaches. The Wigner-Ville Distribution (WD) is employed in this study in addition to the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) technique to extract target features mainly from late-time target responses. WD is applied to the back-scattered responses at different aspects. To decrease aspect dependency, feature vectors are extracted from selected late-time portions of the WD outputs that include natural resonance related information. Principal components analysis is also used to fuse the feature vectors and/or late-time target responses extracted from reference aspects of a given target into a single characteristic feature vector for each target to further reduce aspect dependency.

The problem studied in this thesis, is the classification of the small-scale aircraft targets by using a natural resonance based electromagnetic feature extraction technique. The aircraft targets are modeled by perfectly conducting, thin wire structures. The electromagnetic back-scattered data used in the classification process, are numerically generated for five aircraft models. A contemporary signal processing tool, the Wigner-Ville distribution is employed in this study in addition to using the principal components analysis technique to extract target features mainly from late-time target responses. The Wigner-Ville distribution (WD) is applied to the electromagnetic back-scattered responses from different aspects. Then, feature vectors are extracted from suitably chosen late-time portions of the WD outputs, which include natural resonance related v information, for every target and aspect to decrease aspect dependency. The database of the classifier is constructed by the feature vectors extracted at only a few reference aspects. Principal components analysis is also used to fuse the feature vectors and/or late-time aircraft responses extracted from reference aspects of a given target into a single characteristic feature vector of that target to further reduce aspect dependency. Consequently, an almost aspect independent classifier is designed for small-scale aircraft targets reaching high correct classification rate.

L’objectif de cette thèse est la classification automatique des cibles (ATC) en utilisant les signaux rétrodiffusés par un radar ultra large bande (UWB). La classification des cibles est réalisée en comparant les signatures des cibles et les signatures stockées dans une base de données. Premièrement, une étude sur la théorie de diffusion nous a permis de comprendre le sens physique des paramètres extraits et de les exprimer mathématiquement. Deuxièmement, des méthodes d’extraction de paramètres sont appliquées afin de déterminer les signatures des cibles. Un bon choix des paramètres est important afin de distinguer les différentes cibles. Différentes méthodes d’extraction de paramètres sont comparées notamment : méthode de Prony, Racine-classification des signaux multiples (Root-MUSIC), l’estimation des paramètres des signaux par des techniques d’invariances rotationnels (ESPRIT), et la méthode Matrix Pencil (MPM). Troisièmement, une méthode efficace de classification supervisée est nécessaire afin de classer les cibles inconnues par l’utilisation de leurs signatures extraites. Différentes méthodes de classification sont comparées notamment : Classification par la distance de Mahalanobis (MDC), Naïve Bayes (NB), k-plus proches voisins (k-NN), Machines à Vecteurs de Support (SVM). Une bonne technique de classification doit avoir une bonne précision en présence de signaux bruités et quelques soit l’angle d’émission. Les différents algorithmes ont été validés en utilisant les simulations des données rétrodiffusées par des objets canoniques et des cibles de géométries complexes modélisées par des fils minces et parfaitement conducteurs. Une méthode de classification automatique de cibles basée sur l’utilisation de la méthode Matrix Pencil dans le domaine fréquentiel (MPMFD) pour l’extraction des paramètres et la classification par la distance de Mahalanobis est proposée. Les résultats de simulation montrent que les paramètres extraits par MPMFD présentent une solution plausible pour la classification automatique des cibles. En outre, nous avons prouvé que la méthode proposée a une bonne tolérance aux bruits lors de la classification des cibles. Enfin, les différents algorithmes sont validés sur des données expérimentales et cibles réelles. / The objective of this thesis is the Automatic Target Classification (ATC) based on radar backscattered Ultra WideBand (UWB) signals. The classification of the targets is realized by making comparison between the deduced target properties and the different target features which are already recorded in a database. First, the study of scattering theory allows us to understand the physical meaning of the extracted features and describe them mathematically. Second, feature extraction methods are applied in order to extract signatures of the targets. A good choice of features is important to distinguish different targets. Different methods of feature extraction are compared including wavelet transform and high resolution techniques such as: Prony’s method, Root-Multiple SIgnal Classification (Root-MUSIC), Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques (ESPRIT) and Matrix Pencil Method (MPM). Third, an efficient method of supervised classification is necessary to classify unknown targets by using the extracted features. Different methods of classification are compared: Mahalanobis Distance Classifier (MDC), Naïve Bayes (NB), k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). A useful classifier design technique should have a high rate of accuracy in the presence of noisy data coming from different aspect angles. The different algorithms are demonstrated using simulated backscattered data from canonical objects and complex target geometries modeled by perfectly conducting thin wires. A method of ATC based on the use of Matrix Pencil Method in Frequency Domain (MPMFD) for feature extraction and MDC for classification is proposed. Simulation results illustrate that features extracted with MPMFD present a plausible solution to automatic target classification. In addition, we prove that the proposed method has better ability to tolerate noise effects in radar target classification. Finally, the different algorithms are validated on experimental data and real targets.

En réponse au nombre toujours élevé de décès provoqués par les accidents routiers, l'industrie automobile a fait de la sécurité un sujet majeur de son activité global. Les radars automobiles qui étaient de simples capteurs pour véhicule de confort, sont devenus des éléments essentiels de la norme de sécurité routière. Le domaine de l’automobile est un domaine très exigent en terme de sécurité et les radars automobiles doivent avoir des performances de détection très élevées et doivent répondre à des nombreuses contraintes telles que la facilité de production et/ou le faible coût. Cette thèse concerne le développement d’algorithmes pour la détection et la localisation de piétons et de cyclistes pour des radars automobiles de nouvelle génération. Nous avons proposé une architecture de réseau d'antennes non uniforme optimale et des méthodes d'estimation spectrale à haute résolution permettant d’estimer avec précision la position angulaire des objets à partir de la direction d'arrivée (DoA) de leur réponse. Ces techniques sont adaptées à l'architecture du réseau d'antennes proposé et les performances sont évaluées à l'aide de données radar automobiles simulées et réelles acquises dans le cadre de scénarios spécifiques. Nous avons également proposé un détecteur de cible de collision, basé sur la décomposition en sous-espaces Doppler, dont l'objectif principal est d'identifier des cibles latérales dont les caractéristiques de trajectoire représentent potentiellement un danger de collision. Une méthode de calcul d'attribut de cible est également développée et un algorithme de classification est proposé pour discriminer les piétons, cyclistes et véhicules. Les différents algorithmes sont évalués et validés à l'aide de données radar automobiles réelles sur plusieurs scenarios. / In response to the persistently high number of deaths provoked by road crashes, the automotive industry has promoted safety as a major topic in their global activity. Automotive radars have been transformed from being simple sensors for comfort vehicle, to becoming essential elements of safety standard. The design of new generations automotive radars has to face various constraints and generally proposes a compromise between reliability, robustness, manufacturability, high-performance and low cost. The main objective of this PhD thesis is to design algorithms for the detection and localization of pedestrians and cyclists using new generation automotive radars. We propose an optimal non-uniform antenna array architecture and some high resolution spectral estimation methods to accurately estimate the position of objects from the direction of arrival (DOA) of their responses to the radar. These techniques are adapted to the proposed antenna array architecture and the performance is evaluated using both simulated and real automotive radar data, acquired in the frame of specific scenarios. We propose a collision target detector, based on the orthogonality of angle-Doppler subspaces, whose main goal is to identify lateral targets, whose trajectory features represent potentially a danger of collision. A target attribute calculation method is also developed and classification algorithm is proposed to classify pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles. This classification algorithm is evaluated and validated using real automotive radar data with several scenarios.