iJJJ(>'lNTRODUCT10N TO RADAR SYSTEMS

be applied to a continuous, single-target tracking radar when the error signal is processed
digitally rather than analog. Indeed, the equations describing the a-/? tracker are equivalent to
the type II servo system widely used to mode! the continuous tracker.)
If, for some reason, the track-while-scan radar does not receive target information on a
particular scan, the smoothing and prediction operation can be continued by properly
accounting for the missed data. 80 However, when data to update a track is missing for a
sufficient number of consecutive scans, the track is terminated. Although the criterion for
terminating a track depends on the application, one example suggests that when three target
reports are used to establish a track, five consecutive misses is a suitable criterion for
termination.82
One of the corollary advantages of ADT is that it effects a bandwidth reduction in (he
output of a radar so as to allow the radar data to be transmitted to another location via
narrowband phone lines rather than wideband microwave links. This makes iumore conve-
nient to operate the radar at a remote site, and permits the outputs from many radars to be
communicated economically to a central control point.
It should be noted that the adaptive thresholding of the automatic detector can cause a
worsening of the range-resolution. By analogyjo the anguiacresplutipn_possiblean the angle
coordinate88 it woujd seem a priori that two targets might be resolved in_ ranRe if their
separation is aboutig.8 of the pulse width. However, it has been shown 89 that with automatic
detection the probability of resolving targets in range does not rise above 0.9 until they are
separated by 2.5 pulse widths. To achieve this resolution a log-video receiver should be used and
the threshold should be proportional to the smaller of the two means calculated from a number
of reference cells on either side of the test cell. It also assumes that the shape of the return pulse
is not known. If it is, it should be possible with the proper processing to resolve targets within a
pulse width.
When more than one radar, covering approximately the same volume in space, arc
located within the vicinity of each other, it is sometimes desirable to combine their outputs to
form a single track file rather than form separate tracks. 8397" Such an automatic detection and
integrated tracking system (ADIT) has the advantage of a greater data rate than any single radar
operating independently. The development of a single track file by use of the total available
data from all radars reduces the likelihood of a loss of target detections as might be caused by
antenna lobing, fading, interference, and clutter since integrated processing permits the
favorable weighting of the better data and lesser weighting of the poorer data.
If