Determination of characteristic features of a RCS using wavelet

The radar cross section (RCS) of a target reflects its ability to backscatter incident energy and is generally related to its geometrical complexity. This radiated energy allows one to obtain several different points of the target, generally labeled as the scattering centers. Most of the existing techniques used to detect and recognize a target depended on these particular points and are labeled as the scattering-center model. This model, while only an approximation, is conceptually simple, and provides a sparse abstraction of the actual target for numerous radar applications. The conventional radar image generated with the Fourier transform is preferred over model techniques if all the scattering centers can be resolved. Accurate estimates of the locations of the scattering centers are given by the peaks in the radar image. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the peaks the contribution of the scattering centers to the total backscattered field. The estimation of the geometrical features of a target is not necessarily possible if the location of these centers are not known. When analysing the RCS of a target, it may be possible to select some ranges of the signal in respect with the observation angle /spl theta/ that are relevant for the target's geometrical features. The application of wavelet transform to the RCS interpretation brings significant additional information that yields an eventual determination of the target size.