In Wireless Sensor Actor Networks (WSANs), sensor nodes perform the sensing task and actor nodes take action based on the sensed phenomenon. The presence of actors in this configuration can not be benefited from, unless they are able to execute actions at right place and right time in the event region. The right place can be related to the accurate position of the sensor nodes. While, the right time is related to delivering the packets directly to the appropriate actors within the event specific response times. Hence, the efficient localization of sensor nodes, sensor-actor/actor-actor coordination and real-time routing is indispensable in WSANs. Furthermore, the limited energy levels and bandwidth of the state of art sensor nodes currently impose stringent requirements for low-complexity, low-energy, distributed coordination and cooperation protocols and their implementation. In this study, we propose an integrated framework which addresses the issues of sensors localization, network configuration, data aggregation, real-time data delivery, sensor-actor/actor-actor coordination and energy saving mechanisms. The proposal incorporates novel approaches on three fronts / (1) timing-based sensors localization (TSL) algorithm to localize the sensor nodes relative to actors, (2) real-time coordination and routing protocols and (3) energy conservation. The distributed real-time coordination and routing is implemented in addressing and greedy modes routing. A cluster-based real-time coordination and routing (RCR) protocol operates in addressing mode. The greedy mode routing approach (Routing by Adaptive Targeting, RAT) is a stateless shortest path routing. In dense deployment, it performs well in terms of delay and energy consumption as compared to RCR. To keep the traffic volume under control, the framework incorporates a novel real-time data aggregation (RDA) approach in RCR such that the packets deadlines are not affected. RDA is adaptive to the traffic conditions and provides fairness among the farther and nearer cluster-heads. Finally, framework incorporates a power management scheme that eliminates data redundancy by exploiting the spatial correlation of sensor nodes. Simulation results prove that the framework provides the real-time guarantees up to 95 % of the packets with lesser energy consumption of up to 33 % achieved using MEAC as compared to LEACH and SEP. The packet delivery ratio is also 60 % higher than that of semi-automated architecture. Furthermore the action accuracy is supported by TSL which restricts the localization errors less than 1 meter by tuning it according to the expected velocity of nodes and required accuracy.

Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar coherently processes the return signal from the target in order to construct the image of the target. The conventional methodology used for obtaining the image is the Fourier transform which is not capable of suppressing the Doppler change in the return signal. As a result, Range-Doppler image is degraded. A proper time-frequency transform suppresses the degradation due to time varying Doppler shift. In this thesis, high resolution joint-time frequency transformations that can be used in place of the conventional method are evaluated. Wigner-Ville Distribution, Adaptive Gabor Representation with Coarse-to-Fine search algorithm, and Time-Frequency Distribution Series are examined for the target imaging system. The techniques applied to sample signals compared with each other. The computational and memorial complexity of the methods are evaluated and compared to each other and possible improvements are discussed. The application of these techniques in the target imaging system is also performed and resulting images compared to each other.

LOW ALTITUDE RADAR WAVE PROPAGATION MODELLING In this PhD thesis, propagation aspects of low altitude radar performance have been modeled using geometrical optics. Both the path propagation factor and the radar clutter have been modeled. Such models already exist at various complexity levels, such as round earth specular reflection combined with knife edge hill diffraction [SEKE:IEEE,Ap- 34,No:8,1980] and round earth and slant plateau reflection combined with hill diffraction [RADCAL: 1988-2000,EE,METU]. In the proposed model we have considered an extension to RADCAL&rsquo / s model to include convex and concave slant plateaus between hills and depressions (troughs). This propagation model uses a reflection model based on the Geometrical Theory of Reflection for the convex and concave surfaces. Also, back scattering from surface (clutter) is formulated for the new model of the terrain profile. The effects of the features of the terrain profile on the path propagation factor have been investigated. A real terrain data have been smoothed on the basis of the above study. In order to verify the formulation, the Divergence and Convergence Factors associated with the convex and concave plateaus, respectively are inserted into the RADCAL program. The chosen terrains have convex or concave plateaus in the model. The output of the RADCAL is compared with measured values and other propagation algorithms such as Forward-Backward Spectrally Accelerated (FBSA) [FBSA:IEEE Vol.53, No:9,2005] and Parabolic Equation Method [TPEM:IEEE Vol.42,No:1,1994]. Moreover, as the RADCAL Propagation model is based on the ray optics, the results are also compared with another ray optics based propagation model. For this purpose the results of SEKE [Lincoln Lab.] propagation model are used. SEKE model has been used to compute path loss for different types of terrain as a function of receiving antenna height at a fixed distance between transmit and receive antennas. For Beiseker W35 Terrain profile, the results of RADCAL, SEKE and measurements are compared. All results are in good agreement with those of RADCAL.

Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar has wide application areas in both civil and military use. The range resolution is a critical concept for these FMCW radars as for the other radar types. There are theoretical restrictions in the range resolution. In addition, the non-ideal properties of the modules used in the systems negatively affects the range resolution. The transmitter leakage, non-linear frequency sweep, FM to AM distortion and measurement errors are some of the critical non-ideal properties. The problems arising from these non-ideal properties further restrict the range resolution of FMCW radars. Another important concept for the range resolution that can be obtained from FMCW radars is the signal processing method. This thesis deals with the non-ideal properties of the system modules and techniques to reduce their effects on the range resolution. Furthermore, the signal processing methods used for FMCW radar signals and the possible improvement techniques for these methods are discussed. Moreover, a simple signal processing unit called zero crossing counter which can be used for short range FMCW radars is implemented and range resolution performance of this zero crossing counter is investigated by carrying out measurements on a prototype FMCW radar at 2200MHz.

In this study, a neural network(NN) based algorithm is proposed for real time multiple source tracking problem based on a previously reported work. The proposed algorithm namely modified neural network based multiple source tracking algorithm (MN-MUST) performs direction of arrival(DoA) estimation in three stages which are the detection, filtering and DoA estimation stages. The main contributions of this proposed system are: reducing the input size for the uncorrelated source case (reducing the training time) of NN system without degradation of accuracy and insertion of a nonlinear spatial filter to isolate each one of the sectors where sources are present, from the others. MN-MUST algorithm finds the targets correctly no matter whether the targets are located within the same angular sector or not. In addition as the number of targets exceeds the number of antenna elements the algorithm can still perform sufficiently well. Mutual coupling in array does not influence MN-MUST algorithm performance. iv MN-MUST algorithm is further improved for a cylindrical microstrip patch antenna array by using the advantages of directive antenna pattern properties. The new algorithm is called cylindrical patch array MN-MUST(CMN-MUST). CMN-MUST algorithm consists of three stages as MN-MUST does. Detection stage is exactly the same as in MN-MUST. However spatial filtering and DoA estimation stage are reduced order by using the advantages of directive antenna pattern of cylindirical microstrip patch array. The performance of the algorithm is investigated via computer simulations, for uniform linear arrays, a six element uniform dipole array and a twelve element uniform cylindrical microstrip patch array. The simulation results are compared to the previously reported works and the literature. It is observed that the proposed algorithm improves the previously reported works. The algorithm accuracy does not degrade in the presence of the mutual coupling. A uniform cylindrical patch array is successfully implemented to the MN-MUST algorithm. The implementation does not only cover full azimuth, but also improv the accuracy and speed. It is observed that the MN-MUST algorithm provides an accurate and efficient solution to the targettracking problem in real time.

In OFDM systems carrier frequency offset is observed due to Doppler shift and transmitter-receiver frequency mismatches. This offset induces ICI (Intercarrier Interference). In this thesis, repeated data methods and pilot-aided carrier frequency offset(CFO) estimation methods and windowing techniques are used to mitigate the frequency offset problem and a performance comparison is made between these ICI cancellation techniques. Repeated data methods use only half of the bandwidth for information transmission to eliminate the ICI at the receiver. We have implemented repeated data methods including Self cancellation scheme and Symmetric Symbol Repetition (SSR) schemes to overcome ICI problem. We have also implemented Adjacent Conjugate Symbol Repetiton (ACSR) and Symmetric Conjugate Symbol Repetiton (SCSR) methods to mitigate both phase rotations and ICI. CFO estimation and correction methods generally use pilot sequences. We implemented the &ldquo / Conventional Pilots&rdquo / and &ldquo / Clustered Pilots&rdquo / pilot-aided CFO estimation techniques for ICI cancellation. Furthermore, we also implemented a new scheme by using the odd symmetry between pilot symbols. Nyquist windowing techniques apply windowing at the receiver side. We have implemented second order polynomial class of Nyquist windows and Nyquist window with Franks pulse used to mitigate ICI. These ICI cancellation methods are compared in AWGN and multipath Rayleigh fading channel models in terms of BER and carrier to interference ratio. It is shown that repeated data methods shows better performances than pilot-aided CFO estimation methods with a cost of increased bandwidth usage especially in high SNR&rsquo / s.

In this thesis, a number of novel watermarking techniques for different 3D representations are presented. A novel watermarking method is proposed for the mono-view video, which might be interpreted as the basic implicit representation of 3D scenes. The proposed method solves the common flickering problem in the existing video watermarking schemes by means of adjusting the watermark strength with respect to temporal contrast thresholds of human visual system (HVS), which define the maximum invisible distortions in the temporal direction. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method gives better results in both objective and subjective measures, compared to some recognized methods in the literature. The watermarking techniques for the geometry and image based representations of 3D scenes, denoted as 3D watermarking, are examined and classified into three groups, as 3D-3D, 3D-2D and 2D-2D watermarking, in which the pair of symbols identifies whether the watermark is embedded-detected in a 3D model or a 2D projection of it. A detailed literature survey on 3D-3D watermarking is presented that mainly focuses on protection of the intellectual property rights of the 3D geometrical representations. This analysis points out the specific problems in 3D-3D geometry watermarking , such as the lack of a unique 3D scene representation, standardization for the coding schemes and benchmarking tools on 3D geometry watermarking. For 2D-2D watermarking category, the copyright problem for the emerging free-view televisions (FTV) is introduced. The proposed watermarking method for this original problem embeds watermarks into each view of the multi-view video by utilizing the spatial sensitivity of HVS. The hidden signal in a selected virtual view is detected by computing the normalized correlation between the selected view and a generated pattern, namely rendered watermark, which is obtained by applying the same rendering operations which has occurred on the selected view to the original watermark. An algorithm for the estimation of the virtual camera position and rotation is also developed based on the projective planar relations between image planes. The simulation results show the applicability of the method to the FTV systems. Finally, the thesis also presents a novel 3D-2D watermarking method, in which a watermark is embedded into 3-D representation of the object and detected from a 2-D projection (image) of the same model. A novel solution based on projective invariants is proposed which modifies the cross ratio of the five coplanar points on the 3D model according to the watermark bit and extracts the embedded bit from the 2D projections of the model by computing the cross-ratio. After presenting the applicability of the algorithm via simulations, the future directions for this novel problem for 3D watermarking are addressed.

In this study, novel methods for high-resolution radar target detection in non-Gaussian clutter environment are proposed. In solution of the problem, two approaches are used: Non-coherent detection that operates on the envelope-detected signal for thresholding and coherent detection that performs clutter suppression, Doppler processing and thresholding at the same time. The proposed non-coherent detectors, which are designed to operate in non-Gaussian and range-heterogeneous clutter, yield higher performance than the conventional methods that were designed either for Gaussian clutter or heterogeneous clutter. The proposed coherent detector exploits the information in all the range cells and pulses and performs the clutter reduction and thresholding simultaneously. The design is performed for uncorrelated, partially correlated and fully correlated clutter among range cells. The performance analysis indicates the superiority of the designed methods over the classical ones, in fully correlated and partially correlated situations. In addition, by design of detectors for multiple targets and making corrections to the conventional methods, the target-masking problem of the classical detectors is alleviated.

Method of Moments (MoM)/Green&rsquo / s function formulation is developed for the analysis of electromagnetic radiation from planar rectangular microstrip antennas with different feeding techniques. Investigated structures are microstrip line fed patch antenna, proximity coupled patch antenna and slot coupled patch antenna. For all these structures equivalent problems are defined. Then, integral equations where currents are the unknowns are obtained from boundary conditions and by using spectral domain representation of Green&rsquo / s functions. Finally, MoM is applied to convert these integral equations to a system of linear equations. Currents on the conducting surfaces as well as equivalent magnetic currents on the apertures are modeled as a sum of piecewise sinusoidal subdomain basis functions with unknown coefficients which are calculated by solving the system of linear equations. Based on the formulations provided in this study, a Fortran code is developed. Numerical results calculated by using the code are presented in the form of patch and line currents and input impedances. Presented results are in good agreement with the results given in the literature.

In satellite applications, a circularly polarized satellite antenna is desirable with a pattern that results in constant received power while the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is changing. The Circular Disk - Annular Ring (CDAR) antenna satisfies these requirements along with other requirements for the satellite antenna. The CDAR antenna is a combination of a Circular Disk and an Annular Ring patch antennas. In this thesis, a circularly polarized CDAR antenna that is fed from a single point is designed at the center frequency of 8.2 GHz. This antenna is investigated and optimized to ease the fabrication process. The design parameters are defined on this report and optimized by using an Electromagnetic Simulation software program. In order to verify the theoretical results, Circular Disk - Annular Ring Antenna is produced as a prototype. Measurements of antenna parameters, electromagnetic field and circuit properties are interpreted to show compliance with theoretical and simulation results. The values of deviation between theoretical and experimental results are also discussed.