Radar Signal Emitter Recognition Based on Combined Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition and the Generalized S-Transform

Abstract

Present radar signal emitter recognition approaches suffer from a dependency on prior information. Moreover, modern emitter recognition must meet the challenges associated with low probability of intercept technology and other obscuration methodologies based on complex signal modulation and must simultaneously provide a relatively strong ability for extracting weak signals under low SNR values. Therefore, the present article proposes an emitter recognition approach that combines ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) with the generalized S-transform (GST) for promoting enhanced recognition ability for radar signals with complex modulation under low signal-to-noise ratios in the absence of prior information. The results of Monte Carlo simulations conducted using various mixed signals with additive Gaussian white noise are reported. The results verify that EEMD suppresses the occurrence of mode mixing commonly observed using standard empirical mode decomposition. In addition, EEMD is shown to extract meaningful signal features even under low SNR values, which demonstrates its ability to suppress noise. Finally, EEMD-GST is demonstrated to provide an obviously better time-frequency focusing property than that of either the standard S-transform or the short-time Fourier transform.