Airborne bistatic radar trajectory optimization for ground geolocation accuracy maximization

Target detection geolocation accuracy for monostatic radars is a function of the distance to the target and sensor parameters. For bistatic radars, detection estimation errors are dependent on not only the total distance to the target but also on the platform geometry. In this paper, we present a general approach to optimize platform trajectories in order to maximize detection geolocation accuracy. By utilizing the bistatic Cramer-Rao bound, a lower bound on the estimation errors is determined. Control-limited differential dynamic programming is then used to minimize the estimation errors along a trajectory with a defined time horizon. The optimization implications of different transmitter and receiver cooperation modes are discussed.