Efficient Clutter Cancellation Algorithm Based on a Suppressed Clutter Map for FMCW Radar Systems

Abstract

This paper proposes an efficient clutter cancellation algorithm based on suppressed clutter map for frequency-modulated continuous wave radar systems. In conventional clutter cancellation algorithms based on clutter maps, range-Doppler maps are employed. However, if the radar cross section (RCS) of the targets is significantly lower than the RCS of the clutter, a problem may occur in that the targets may also be removed in the clutter-removal process. To solve this problem, the proposed algorithm creates a range-Doppler map to which the moving target indicator (MTI) algorithm is applied instead of the general range-Doppler map that does not include the MTI algorithm. The range-Doppler map, used after applying the clutter suppression filter, significantly reduces the clutter removal effect on targets in which RCS is relatively weak by suppressing the effect of relatively dominant clutter signals. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm detects weak targets that remain undetected by the existing map-based clutter-removal algorithm.