Drop track time selection using systems approach

• US 8,035,549 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Salvatore, Stephen J., Malakian, Kourken
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US12/578,241
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 342/90, 342 95- 97, 342/62, 342106-112, 342/140, 342/195
• US Class Current: 342/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data

Abstract

A method for calculating a drop track time for a radar system includes receiving characteristics of the radar system as an input, determining in a computer process the characteristics of a target being tracked by the radar system, calculating in a computer process a target track drop time for the target based on the characteristics of the radar system and the target, determining in a computer process whether a value associated with the target being tracked has been updated within the target track drop time, and discontinuing the tracking of the target if a value associated with the target being tracked is not updated within the target track drop time.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a drop track time for a radar system, comprising:

receiving characteristics of the radar system as an input;

determining in a computer process the characteristics of a target being tracked by the radar system;

calculating in a computer process the target track drop time for the target based on characteristics of the radar system and the target;

determining in a computer process whether a value associated with the target being tracked has been updated within the target track drop time; and

discontinuing the tracking of the target if the value associated with the target being tracked has not been updated within the target track drop time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the radar system include a beam width of an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the radar system and a look rate of the radar.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the characteristics of the target being tracked includes calculating a range of the target and an acceleration of the target based on an electromagnetic wave received by the radar system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target track drop time is calculated according to:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein τ

is calculated according to

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reassigning resources of the radar system to an active target track after discontinuing the tracking of the target.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to track the target if a value associated with the target being tracked is updated prior to the expiration of the target track drop time.

8. A system for determining a target track drop time for a radar system, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium; and

a processor in data communication with the computer readable storage medium and one or more radar sensors of the radar system, the processor configured to;

receive characteristics of the radar system as an input;

determine the characteristics of a target being tracked by the radar system based on data received from the radar sensors;

calculate a target track drop time for the target based on the characteristics of the radar system and the target; and

cause the radar system to discontinue the tracking of the target if a value associated with the target being tracked is not updated within the target track drop time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the characteristics of the radar system include a beam width of an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the radar system and a look rate of the radar system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor determines the characteristics of the target by calculating a range of the target and an acceleration of the target based on signals received by the radar sensors.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the target track drop time is calculated according to:

12. The system of claim 11, wherein τ

is calculated according to

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to:

cause the radar system to reassign resources of the radar system to an active target track after discontinuing the tracking of the target.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause the radar system to continue tracking the target.