Object detection and parameter estimation are two fundamental problems of radars. The process firstly detects existence states of objects, and then estimates parameters to identify the existence state. In this paper, we establish a generalized system model combining detection and estimation. Radar information, detection information and estimation information are strictly defined. It is proved that the radar information is the sum of the detection information and the estimation information. The joint posterior probability distribution of the existence state and time delay is derived for constant amplitude scattering objects. Radar entropy error is defined as power of posterior entropy. Both radar information and entropy error can be used to evaluate radar performance. A stochastic method of joint object detection and parameter estimation is proposed by sampling a posteriori (SAP) probability distribution. The main contribution is the proof of radar theorem which points out the theoretical radar limit for comparison of various methods. The radar theorem shows that the entropy error is achievable. Conversely, the empirical entropy error of any radar is no less than the theoretical entropy error. It is further proved that the concatenated system with the optimal detector and the optimal estimator can approach the theoretical limit of radar. The radar theorem and separation theorem answer the theoretical problem of joint detection-estimation, and will give a great promotion to the development of radar technology.
图1 雷达探测系统Fig.1 Radar system
图2 m次快拍探测系统Fig.2 Radar systems of m snapshots
图3 目标检测与参数估计级联的雷达探测系统Fig.3 Radar systems concatenating target detector and parameter estimator
图4 SAP探测器的经验信息与理论信息Fig.4 Empirical information of SAP detector and theoretical information
图5 SAP探测器的经验熵偏差与理论熵偏差Fig.5 Empirical entropy deviation of SAP detector and theoretical entropy deviation
图6 联合探测器与级联探测器的理论探测信息Fig.6 Theoretical radar information of joint and concatenated target detector and parameter estimator
图7 SAP联合探测器与级联探测器的经验探测信息Fig.7 Empirical SAP radar information of joint and concatenated target detector and parameter estimator