Adaptive radar

Apparatus for classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving said return signals;
• and
• a processor for processing said return signals, said processor being configured for:
• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• and
• processing signals returned from a classified item over time and maintaining said classification, reclassifying said item, or declassifying said item in dependence on said processing.

Apparatus for classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving said return signals;
• a processor for processing said return signals said processor being configured for:
• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein an item classified as said first class of item remains so classified for at least a predetermined number of scans after reflected signals from said item are no longer received.

A method of classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the method comprising:

• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• and
• processing return signals from items classified as items of said first class or said second class and further classifying said items into different classes or sub-classes.

Apparatus for classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving said return signals;
• a processor for processing said return signals said processor being configured for:
• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• and
• processing return signals from items classified as items of said first class or said second class and further classifying said items into different classes or sub-classes.

A method of classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the method comprising:

• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein each said classification is stored in a classification history for the item to which the classification relates.

Apparatus for classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving said return signals;
• a processor for processing said return signals said processor being configured for:
• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein each said classification is stored in a classification history for the item to which the classification relates.

A method of classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the method comprising:

• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein said identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item and/or said identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item comprises identifying a cluster of responses from different parts of an item and classifying the item in dependence on the nature of said cluster.

Apparatus for classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving said return signals;
• a processor for processing said return signals said processor being configured for:
• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein said identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item and/or said identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item comprises identifying a cluster of responses from different parts of an item and classifying the item in dependence on the nature of said cluster.

A method of classifying items from reflected signals returned from said items, the method comprising:

• processing said return signals to discriminate between a first set of signals indicative of items of interest and a further set of signals indicative of clutter;
• identifying items from said first set of signals and classifying them as a first class of item;
• processing said further set of signals to identify a second set of signals indicative of further items of interest;
• and
• identifying items from said second set of signals and classifying them as a second class of item;
• wherein an item classified as said first class of item remains so classified for at least a predetermined number of scans after reflected signals from said item are no longer received.