2D Ground Target Location Using GPS based Passive Radar

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are promising illumination opportunity for Passive Radar systems due to their global coverage and the availability of multiple satellites wherever over the world, but their low power at ground level limits system coverage. In this paper, a GPS based Passive Radar exploiting digital array processing techniques is presented for ground target location. To face signal level problems, a processing scheme combining reconstructed reference signals, adaptive filtering techniques and spatial filtering is implemented. Conventional beamforming techniques are used to increase target echo level before the detection stage, and high resolution DoA estimation techniques are applied to estimate targets' azimuth. Tacking into account the system geometry, range and azimuth information, ground targets can be located. Real radar data is used to analyse system operation. During the measurement campaign, a cooperative vehicle was employed for validation purposes. Results confirm GPS signals for ground targets detection and localization.