Implementation of a cognitive radar perception/action cycle

Herein we demonstrate that a cognitive capability can be readily added to modern digital radars. Such radars already consist of adaptive electronically scanned array front ends (often with built-in on-array processing) driven by back ends composed of modern flexible signal/data processor clusters plus receiver-exciters with arbitrary waveform generation capability. Using these as building blocks, a cognitive cycle can be readily constructed. The cognitive paradigm uses these existing hardware capabilities common to modern radars but implemented with new drivers; specifically a cognitive software overlay cycle linking advanced near-real-time analytic techniques. The authors believe that this investigation, which focused on practical existing implementations of the component algorithms to produce a straightforward cognitive cycle, will help convince the radar community that the Cognitive Radar paradigm merits further investigation.