System and method for detection and tracking of targets

Abstract

System and method for detection and tracking of targets, which in a preferred embodiment is based on the use of fractional Fourier transformation of time-domain signals to compute projections of the auto and cross ambiguity functions along arbitrary line segments. The efficient computational algorithms of the preferred embodiment are used to detect the position and estimate the velocity of signals, such as those encountered by active or passive sensor systems. Various applications of the proposed algorithm in the analysis of time-frequency domain signals are also disclosed.

1 . A method for estimating one or more samples of a cross ambiguity function of a first signal and a second signal, the method comprising:
 acquiring the first signal;   computing fractional Fourier transform of the first signal; and   estimating one or more samples of the cross-ambiguity function based on the computed fractional Fourier transforms of the first signal and a fractional Fourier transform of the second signal.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of estimating is further based on using a chirp-z transform. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising computing fractional Fourier transform of the second signal. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fractional Fourier transform of the second signal is computed in advance.