Target Localization Using Approximate Maximum Likelihood for MIMO Radar Systems

This thesis deals with target localization using multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radars. In the field of communications, navigation, radar, and sensing networks, one of the common and most sophisticated problems is target localization. We develop a target localization scheme in distributed MIMO radar systems using bistatic range measurements. The localization approach consisting of two phases. First, measurements are divided into multiple groups based on the various transmitter and receiver elements. For each group, an approximate maximum likelihood (AML) estimator is proposed to estimate the location of a target. Then, the estimation results from these different groups are combined to form the final estimate. The performance of the proposed algorithm is validated by simulation and is shown to reach the CRLB in a range of measurement noise levels. The main advantage of the proposed algorithm is that it achieves higher accuracy than existing schemes for locating a target position in high noise conditions.

Major Advisor: Huaping Liu
Committee: Bella Bose
Committee: Gabor Temes
GCR: William Warnes