Distributed CFAR detection with multisensor using local multilevel quantization based on rank [radar detection]

This paper proposes a multilevel quantization algorithm based on rank and applies it as local processing algorithm to the distributed CFAR (constant false alarm rate) detection with multisensors in a parallel topology. An analytical expression of its performance is derived. A comparison is made with the scheme based on local binary quantization. Result shows that even if without optimization, the new scheme also obtains obvious performance improvements over the distributed detection based on local binary quantization and optimal fusion.