Scheduling for Multifunction Radar via Two-Slope Benefit Functions

The scheduling of tracking and surveillance looks for multifunction radar is considered. A sequential technique is proposed, whereby tracking looks are scheduled first, and surveillance looks are then scheduled to occupy gaps in the radar time line. The Two-Slope Benefit Function TSBF Scheduler is used to schedule the tracking looks and requires that each tracking look request has a benefit function, which specifies benefit as a function of start time. This method accounts for both look priority and target dynamics in formulating a look schedule. If the radar is overloaded with tracking look requests, the TSBF Scheduler down-selects a set of looks which can be scheduled, using a method which favours higher priority looks. Looks are scheduled to maximize the total benefit, and the resulting maximization is shown to be a linear program which can be solved efficiently using the Simplex Method. Given a tracking look schedule, the Gap- Filling Scheduler is used to schedule surveillance looks. A method for prioritising surveillance looks is proposed.