Optimal Detection and Estimation for Echo Ranging in a Randomly Fading Environment

Abstract

<p> A self-synchronized echo ranging system with optimum utilization of signal estimation and detection strategies has been designed and simulated. A binary convolution code has been utilized to modulate the transmitter signal. The random medium is modelled by a vector sum of a fixed and a random component; the medium fading process has a Rician distribution density. A channel estimator has been derived using a maximum a posteriori probability criterion. The estimator is an adaptive processor whereby the variance of the medium fading process is recomputed during each updating cycle. The estimator attempts to provide a coherent input to the correlator. An optimum processor for the signalling described is an ordered serial estimator-correlator combination. It is conjectured that the estimator offers an improvement in signal processing gain of approximately 5 dB over and above the non-optimized system. Accompanying this is an improvement in peak-to -sidelobe ratio and in false alarm probability. A 3 bit (8 level) quantized system is conjectured to be a 'good' trade-off between degradation in system performance and simplification in system implementation.</p>