Estimation of micro-motion parameters based on range vernier

 It’s beneficial for the recognition and classification of targets to obtain precise estimation of micro-motion parameters. This paper proposed a new method to estimate micro-motion parameters using range vernier technique based on the echo characteristics of a point target in the coherent pulse Doppler radar system. First we establish a point target’s radar echo model with micro-motion, actually the echo model of target with precession. Taking a given received pulse as reference point, the range change of target caused by movements at the successive received pulses can be measured accurately by using range vernier technique, and the relationship between range and time reflects the characteristics of target motion. At last, we utilize the Sin FM Basis Decomposition method to estimate the micro-motion parameters, such as amplitude, circular frequency and initial phase. During the process of estimating parameters, the scope of peak search is determined by empirical knowledge and information from radar measurements which we can obtain in the other way. Performance analysis of the algorithm derives the constraint relationship between velocity measurement error, phase measurement error, pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and the carrier frequency, which can ensure normal application of range vernier technique. Under the existing radar system and measurement accuracy, simulation results prove the high precision of the micromotion parameters estimation when all the factors satisfy the constraint relationship.