Parallel processing to generate radar signatures for multiple objects

• US 7,750,842 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chul J., Villanueva, Axel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brainard; Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/212,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 342/169
• US Class Current: 342/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4021 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4052 by simulation of echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4082 using externally generated reference signals, e.g. via remote reflector or transponder

Abstract

In one aspect, a system to generate a radar signature of an object includes electromagnetic processing modules that include a first module including at least one processing unit to perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the object, a second module including a processing unit to perform a physical theory (PTD) technique to solve for material edges of the object and a third module including a processing unit to perform an incremental length diffraction coefficient (ILDC) to solve for material boss/channel. Results from the first, second and third modules are coherently integrated by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the object in real-time. Performance of the system is scalable by adding processing units to at least one of the first, second or third modules.

Claims

1. A system to generate a radar signature of an object comprising:

electromagnetic processing modules comprising;

a first module comprising at least one processing unit to perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the object;

a second module comprising a processing unit to perform a physical theory (PTD) technique to solve for material edges of the object; and

a third module comprising a processing unit to perform an incremental length diffraction coefficient (ILDC) technique to solve for material boss/channel,

wherein results from the first, second and third modules are coherently integrated by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the object in real-time,

wherein performance of the system is configured to be scalable by adding processing units to at least one of the first, second or third modules.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system generates radar signatures of a plurality of objects by coherently integrating by frequency results from the first, second and third modules to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the plurality of objects in real-time.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a master controller configured to control distribution and load balancing of the first, second and third modules.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a switch connected to the first, second and third modules and the master controller.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the master controller and the first, second and third modules communicate using a message passing interface.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

an output device connected to the master controller to render the object;

a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) connected to the motor controller.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third modules solve for physical phenomena for each polarization comprising vertical-vertical (V-V), vertical-horizontal (V-H), horizontal-vertical (H-V), horizontal-horizontal (H-H).

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor comprises a central processing unit to perform dynamic ray tracing to form images of the objects and a graphic processing unit (GPU) to determine far-field data associated with the image.

9. A system to generate a radar signature of an object comprising:

electromagnetic processing modules comprising;

a first module comprising at least one processing unit to perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the object;

a second module comprising a processing unit to perform a physical theory (PTD) technique to solve for material edges of the object; and

a third module comprising a processing unit to perform an incremental length diffraction coefficient (ILDC) technique to solve for material boss/channel;

a master controller configured to control distribution and load balancing of the first, second and third modules the master controller and the first, second and third modules communicating using a message passing interface;

a switch connected to the first, second and third modules and the master controller;

an output device connected to the master controller to display the object; and

a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) connected to the motor controller;

wherein results from the first, second and third modules are coherently integrated by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the object in real-time, and

wherein performance of the system is configured to be scalable by adding processing units to at least one of the first, second or third modules.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein results from the first, second and third modules are coherently integrated by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of a plurality of objects in real-time.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first, second and third modules solve for physical phenomena for each polarization comprising vertical-vertical (V-V), vertical-horizontal (V-H), horizontal-vertical (H-V), horizontal-horizontal (H-H).

12. An article comprising:

a machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions to generate radar signatures for an object, the instructions causing a machine to;

perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the object;

perform a physical theory (PTD) technique to solve for material edges of the object; and

perform an incremental length diffraction coefficient (ILDC) technique to solve for material boss/channel;

integrate coherently results of the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the object in real-time,

wherein performance of the article is scalable by adding additional machines to perform at least one of the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing a machine to generates radar signatures of a plurality of objects by coherently integrating by frequency results from the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the plurality of objects in real-time.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing a machine to use message passing interface for communication between a first module to perform the SBR technique, a second module to perform the PTD technique and a third module to perform the ILDC technique.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing a machine to control distribution and load balancing of the first, second and third modules.

16. The article of claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing a machine to solve for physical phenomena for each polarization comprising vertical-vertical (V-V), vertical-horizontal (V-H), horizontal-vertical (H-V), horizontal-horizontal (H-H) for the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques.

17. The article of claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing a machine to:

perform dynamic ray tracing to form images of the objects using a central processing unit; and

determine far-field data associated with the image using a graphic processing unit (GPU).

18. A method to generate a radar signature of an object, comprising:

performing a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the object using a first processing unit;

performing a physical theory (PTD) technique to solve for material edges of the object using a second processing unit;

performing an incremental length diffraction coefficient (ILDC) technique to solve for material boss/channel using a third processing unit;

integrating coherently results of the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques by frequency to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the object in real-time; and

adding a fourth processing unit to perform one of the SBR, PTD or ILDC techniques to provide a scalable performance increase.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating radar signatures of a plurality of objects by coherently integrating by frequency results from the SBR, PTD and ILDC techniques to generate radar cross section (RCS) values of the plurality of objects in real-time.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling distribution and load balancing of the first, second, third and fourth processing units.