Cognitive Radar Sensing

The combination of bio-inspired cognitive concepts and advanced system design can enhance performance and realize new application areas for radar. Current technology allows virtually all radar parameters to be varied on a pulse-by-pulse basis. This flexibility offers the opportunity for adaptive approaches on both transmit and receive, but full exploitation requires the radar itself to make the necessary, near instantaneous, decisions as to how to set these parameters. It follows that the radar will require an understanding of its mission and its current operating environment, both key components of a cognitive system.

The cognitive notions of “perception-action”, memory, attention, intelligence, and knowledge all have the potential to be beneficially exploited. This research is examining, developing, and applying cognition-like concepts with specific aims to enhance system performance and generate new radar applications based on the autonomous operation.

 

flow chart showing cognitive radar sensing order

Faculty/Researcher Contacts