Joint Detection Estimation Problem of Monopulse Angle Measurement

Estimation of the direction of arrival (DOA) of a signal source by means of a monopulse estimation scheme is one of the oldest and most widely used high-precision techniques in operational tracking systems. Although the statistical performance of this estimation technique has been extensively investigated, it has never been analyzed from the viewpoint of the joint detection-estimation problem. As a consequence the historical form of the (detector-angle estimator) solution has become the usual form implemented in operational tracking systems and may restrict their accessible performance. Indeed, the application of the optimal detection theory reveals alternative (detector-angle estimator) solutions providing other relevant trade-offs in detection-estimation performances that are worth considering to optimize the performance of the tracking system according to the scenario. Both stochastic signal model (Rayleigh-type signal source) and deterministic signal model (signal source of unknown amplitude) have been investigated, leading to a novel but equally simple (detector-angle estimator) solution through which analytical statistical prediction has been derived. Comparison of detection-estimation performances of new and usual solutions is presented.