Block processing in pulse Doppler radar

The introduction of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm and the improvements in the speed and availability of digital circuitry in recent years have made it possible to develop a signal processor which is naturally suited to block processing and which does not exhibit a transient response on a change of pulse repetition frequency. An experimental radar has been built to investigate the principles of design and operation with respect to such a device. Some of the results of the system evaluation are discussed. The principles of the Maximum Entropy Method are also considered along with the results of analyzing radar data by this method. Attention is given to design details of the radar system, the signal processor, the FFT processor, the weighted functions, preliminary trials results, a high resolution spectral analysis, the choice of an autocorrelation estimate, and the choice of the prediction filter length.