Experiments with cognitive radar

This paper presents experimental results from a cognitive radar system. In the cognitive approach used, radar parameters are constantly self-monitored and self-adjusted so that radar performance remains at a level specified by the user. This is in stark contrast to traditional radar where parameters are fixed and the performance varies according to the encountered scenario. The experiments were conducted with a specially designed system, the “Cognitive Radar Experimental Workspace” or “CREW”. The CREW was designed so that it can incorporate cognitive processing concepts that require adaptive feedback, memory generation, and memory exploitation. These operations can be accomplished at pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) of up to 30 kHz, enabling real-time time adaptation. The experiment results demonstrate that a cognitive approach can improve radar performance, evaluated through tracking error, over and above that achievable with a conventional fixed parameter radar system. Although the demonstration provided is based upon a tracking example, the lessons learned apply across a wide range of radar applications.