Detecting and Tracking Multiple Small UAV Using Passive Radar

Based on past research results, passive radars are generally considered a class of sensor systems well suited for the detection and tracking of small UAVs. When applying conventional detection and tracking methods (Detect-then-Track), however, several challenges arise. Target reflections may not be detected due to low signal-to-noise ratio. Further, multiple target-dependent measurements, due to non radar optimized waveforms and target movement, make data association more demanding. Track-before-Detect methods represent an alternative to such processing schemes, where a classical threshold detector is avoided and the whole target reflection is modeled in the measurement space. This work gives an overview of the fundamentals and differences of both target tracking concepts, before evaluating experimental data using two cooperative drones in a GSM passive radar scenario.