Improved distributed automatic target recognition performance by exploiting dominant scatterer spatial diversity

Radar automatic target recognition (ATR) is examined from the viewpoint of improving classification performance through the use of bistatic scattering. Recent radar target classification performance improvements have been confirmed using multiple perspectives without consideration of bistatic scattering. In this paper, we examine the use of bistatic scattering characteristics of dominant, canonical scatterers to demonstrate further improvements in target classification rates. Multiple, spatially diverse high range resolution (HRR) profiles are exploited to show progressive improvement in classification rates as such additional target perspectives are included in the classification algorithm. Percentage of correct classification (PCC) improvements approaching 30% is demonstrated when comparing monostatic and multi-static configurations.