Cooperative radar techniques: The two-step detector

In this paper we analyze a two-step detection scheme for use in distributed sensor systems (e.g. statistical MIMO radar). The scheme arises when a data rate restriction forces each of the distributed systems to sensor their detection statistics before sharing. We present the Neyman-Pearson (NP) two-step detection rule for the Swerling 2 target model case and expressions for the overall probability of detection and false alarm. We then analyze the performance of the Swerling 2 NP two-step detector, which requires a priori knowledge of the target SNR, and provide empirical evidence that it appears to be only weakly dependent on this a priori knowledge.