Range And Range Rate Estimation For Stepped Frequency Waveform With Constant Pulse Repetition Period

Systems and methods are provided and include a radar system that transmits radar signals within frames having radar chirps. The radar chirps have a stepped frequency waveform such that the initial and end frequencies are changed for subsequent chirps and have a constant pulse repetition period between chirps. The radar system performs range fast Fourier transform (FFT) processing and Doppler FFT processing on receive values corresponding to reflected signals from an object. The radar system estimates range and range-rate information about the object based on range FFT values and Doppler FFT values using a signal model and determines information about the object based on the estimated range and range-rate information. The signal model includes (1) a fast-time dimension term corresponding to samples within a radar chirp and (2) a slow-time dimension term corresponding to individual radar chirps within the frame, with the slow-time dimension term including a second degree term.