Modeling of Intermediate Frequency Signals in Marine Radar Systems

This project focuses on modeling intermediate frequency signals for marine radar systems within the MATLAB environment and implementing CA-CFAR (Cell-Averaging Constant False Alarm Rate) processing. In this MATLAB-based implementation, we develop comprehensive modeling of marine radar intermediate frequency signals. The modeling approach allows for deeper understanding of radar signal characteristics and behaviors through systematic simulation. Key implementation aspects include generating realistic IF signals using MATLAB's signal processing toolbox, where we model parameters such as carrier frequency, modulation schemes, and noise characteristics. The project places significant emphasis on implementing CA-CFAR processing, a critical algorithm for reducing false alarms and enhancing radar system accuracy and reliability. The CA-CFAR implementation involves creating reference cells around the cell under test, calculating average noise power, and applying adaptive thresholding techniques. This is achieved through custom MATLAB functions that handle sliding window operations and threshold calculation based on surrounding cell statistics. During the modeling phase, we consider multiple radar signal parameters including frequency components, amplitude variations, phase characteristics, and propagation effects. The MATLAB implementation incorporates these factors through mathematical modeling equations and signal generation functions, producing accurate simulated data that reflects real-world radar signal behavior. For the CA-CFAR processing task, we utilize MATLAB's built-in signal processing functions alongside custom algorithms. The implementation includes functions for noise estimation, threshold calculation using guard cells and training cells, and detection logic. Key MATLAB functions employed might include filter design tools, statistical processing functions, and visualization capabilities for analyzing detection performance. This project provides in-depth exploration of marine radar intermediate frequency signal modeling and CA-CFAR processing, delivering valuable data and methodologies for radar system development and optimization. The code implementation demonstrates practical approaches to signal simulation and adaptive threshold detection, serving as a foundation for further radar signal processing research.