What is Signal Estimation

Signal Detection involves confirming one of the several hypothesis regarding the subject under consideration with the help of the signal received (probably with noise). While in Signal Estimation, having stuck to a particular hypothesis as true, certain characteristics of the subject under consideration is determined.

Illustrating the signal detection and estimation used in the field of RADAR, will give an understanding of the concept. In the use of RADAR, signal detection refers to determining the presence of an aircraft or other objects of interest, from the RADAR signals received from the aircraft. While Signal Estimation involves determining the Speed of the aircraft from which the RADAR signal are reflected.

For Signal Estimation, a number of sample signals are required. A number of Estimation techniques are available. To estimate a parameter which is random, Bayes Estimation is commonly used, while for estimating a parameter which is not random, Maximum Likelihood Estimation is used.

Simple!