Receiver platform motion estimation using terrestrial broadcast transmitters for passive radar

Abstract

Passive radar systems operate solely based on the signal received from a transmitter of opportunity such as DVB-T and DAB. The target detection therefore becomes more difficult when passive radar is mounted on a moving platform. This is due to the inherent difficulty of differentiating the motion induced by the platform and the variation of the signal characteristic due to the target reflection. In this paper, the viability of applying motion compensation solutions derived from an inertial measurement unit on a moving passive radar platforms is experimentally validated. Sources of potential error arising from poor transmitter synchronisation are also discussed and compensated.