Evolution of Cognitive Radars Toward Intelligent Systems Architectures

In this paper authors aims to present and analyze the recently published book “The Impact of Cognition on Radar Technology”, making through it and its references a journey across the history of radar, and showing how the introduction of cognitive capabilities in the current radar systems can greatly improve their technical aspects when compared with the traditional ones. The paper is presented through the eyes of an hypothetical reader who will realize how in the book everything is remarkably embedded with cognition, from the cognitive design of radar waveforms toward the cognitive radar applications, to tracking, CFAR detection and receiver adaptation. The journey is accomplished throughout ten chapters divided by topics but united by the same leitmotiv: cognitive radars can indeed go beyond the theoretical limits of traditional radars. Many issues remain still open for future analysis and developments. Personal considerations of the authors are given at the end.