Pose-angular tracking of maneuvering targets with high range resolution (HRR) radar

Ground targets are constrained on the Earth with their velocity vector direction aligned mostly along the body longitudinal axis. The pose angle therefore carries kinematic information useful for tracking maneuvering targets. For target identification (ID), range profiles obtained by a high range resolution (HRR) radar are compared with reference templates in pose angle per target class, thus producing pose angle estimates. In this paper, we present a method for measuring the pose angle of a maneuvering target by first converting the matching scores of a classifier into a ldquolikelihoodrdquo function and then updating the likelihood function probabilistically. By accumulating the likelihoods of possible poses over time, it enables the pose angular tracking as the target is undertaking turn maneuvers. Simulation results for pose angular tracking are presented wherein range profiles are generated from RF signatures of moving targets.