An End-to-End Modular Framework for Radar Signal Processing: A Simulation-Based Tutorial

This tutorial presents an end-to-end modular framework for signal processing techniques used in radar systems. The taxonomy of radar has been reviewed, as well as the subsystems of radar. The radar range equation is discussed, and its terms are explained. The radar operating principle and radar signal processing techniques to implement those operations have been highlighted. The simulation of a complete radar has been performed, and the results have been shown after each stage/module of a radar, enabling the reader to appreciate the impact of the specific process on the radar signal. The transmitter, antenna, and receiver subsystems have been simulated in MATLAB with a detailed discussion on waveform generation and transmission, receiver side operations such as matched filtering, Doppler processing, moving target indication filtering, and constant false alarm rate detection. Each step of the receiver chain’s signal processing has been discussed, along with its influence on the signal. The implementation is carried out by simulating a generic 2D pulse-Doppler radar. A comprehensive analysis of the waveform generation and its effect on the target detection performance, varying radar cross section effect on the reflected wave, and path loss during propagation has been demonstrated. The sensitivity of the received signal to changing pulse types, number of fast Fourier transform points, window types, and CFAR algorithms have been presented. We have also discussed a radar system’s conflicting range and Doppler ambiguities.