Book Description

This study provides a fundamental examination of the optimum signal processor design for time delay estimation under the assumption of a multisensor, multitarget environment. Using an MLE procedure, an optimum multisensor, multitarget time delay estimator is derived. The resulting signal processor is reduced to its simplest form for system realization. In addition, this study derives the appropriate performance bound for the resulting estimator. Comparisons between optimum and suboptimum realizations are also discussed. The optimum multisensors, multitarget time delay estimator is then refined to include the moving target environment. Finally, the variable time delay estimator is applied to the problem of variable localization parameter estimation and tracking. The organization of this report is as follows: Chapter 2 discusses and formulates the multisensor, multitarget time delay estimation problem. Chapter 3 derives the optimum time delay estimator and an appropriate performance bound. In addition, the extension of time delay estimation to localization parameter estimation and power spectral estimation is considered. Chapter 4 provides some discussion on suboptimum processor realization. Chapter 5 discusses alternate approaches for improved multitarget parameter resolution. Chapter 6 extends the optimum time delay processor to include variable time delays. Chapter 7 examines the problem of optimum variable localization parameter estimation and tracking. Finally, Chapter 8 presents the summary, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.