A Model for Generating Synthetic VHF SAR Forest Clutter Images

We propose a model for generating low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) clutter that relates model parameters to physical characteristics of the scene. The model includes both distributed scattering and large-amplitude discrete clutter responses. The model also incorporates the SAR imaging process, which introduces correlation among image pixels. The model may be used to generate synthetic clutter for a range of environmental operating conditions for use in target detection performance evaluation of the radar and automatic target detection/recognition algorithms. We derive a statistical representation of the proposed clutter model's pixel amplitudes and compare with measured data from the CARABAS-II SAR. Simulated clutter images capture the structure and amplitude responses seen in the measured data. A statistical analysis shows an order of magnitude improvement in model fit error compared with standard maximum-likelihood (ML) density fitting methods.     

Superresolution HRR ATR with high definition vector imaging

A new 1-D template-based automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm is developed and tested on high range resolution (HRR) profiles formed from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of targets taken from the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) data set. In this work, a superresolution technique known as High Definition Vector Imaging (HDVI) is applied to the HRR profiles before the profiles are passed through ATR classification. The new I-D ATR system using HDVI demonstrates significantly improved target recognition compared with previous I-D ATR systems that use conventional image processing techniques. This improvement in target recognition is quantified by improvement in probability of correct classification (PCC). More importantly, the application of HDVI to HRR profiles helps to maintain the same ATR performance with reduced radar resource requirements     

Object-based SAR image compression using vector quantization

A simple and elegant algorithm is presented to encode images with rich content, which allows easy access to various objects. An object-plane-based encoding method for compression of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is developed, with different object planes for target classes and background. A variable-rate residual vector quantization (VQ) algorithm is developed to encode the background information. This algorithm is very powerful as indicated by the experimental results. The proposed coding scheme allows compression matched to the final application of the images, which in this case is target recognition and classification.     

Improved target classification using optimum polarimetric SARsignatures

We present a new method for automatic target/object classification by using the optimum polarimetric radar signatures of the targets/objects of interest. The state-of-the-art in radar target recognition is based mostly either on the use of single polarimetric pairs or on the four preset pairs of orthogonal polarimetric signatures. Due to these limitations, polarimetric radar processing has been fruitful only in the area of noise suppression and target detection. The use of target separability criteria for the optimal selection of radar signal state of polarizations is addressed here. The polarization scattering matrix is used for the derivation of target signatures at arbitrary transmit and receive polarization states (arbitrary polarization inclination angles and ellipticity angles). Then, an optimization criterion that minimizes the within-class distance and maximizes the between-class metrics is used for the derivation of optimum sets of polarimetric states. The results of the application of this approach on real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data of military vehicles are obtained. The results show that noticeable improvements in target separability and consequently target classification can be achieved by the use of the optimum over nonoptimum signatures     

Bayesian gamma mixture model approach to radar target recognition

This paper develops a Bayesian gamma mixture model approach to automatic target recognition (ATR). The specific problem considered is the classification of radar range profiles (RRPs) of military ships. However, the approach developed is relevant to the generic discrimination problem. We model the radar returns (data measurements) from each target as a gamma mixture distribution. Several different motivations for the use of mixture models are put forward, with gamma components being chosen through a physical consideration of radar returns. Bayesian formalism is adopted and we obtain posterior distributions for the parameters of our mixture models. The distributions obtained are too complicated for direct analytical use in a classifier, so Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques are used to provide samples from the distributions. The classification results on the ship data compare favorably with those obtained from two previously published techniques, namely a self-organizing map and a maximum likelihood gamma mixture model classifier.     

Automatic target recognition using enhanced resolution SAR data

Using advanced technology, a new automatic target recognition (ATR) system has been developed that provides significantly improved target recognition performance compared with ATR systems that use conventional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image-processing techniques. This significant improvement in target recognition performance is achieved by using a new superresolution image-processing technique that enhances SAR image resolution (and image quality) prior to performing target recognition. A computationally efficient two-level implementation of a template-based classifier is used to perform target recognition. The improvement in target recognition performance achieved using superresolution image processing in this new ATR system is quantified     

一种基于高分辨率距离像自动目标识别新方法

提出了一种基于高分辨率距离像的联合对准与识别新方法。该方法结合功率变换的使用，在利用8米雷达目标实测数据进行的识别实验中，获得了较高的正确识别率。     

Predicting an upper bound on SAR ATR performance

We present a method for predicting a tight upper bound on performance of a vote-based approach for automatic target recognition (ATR) in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. In such an approach, each model target is represented by a set of SAR views, and both model and data views are represented by locations of scattering centers. The proposed method considers data distortion factors such as uncertainty, occlusion, and clutter, as well as model factors such as structural similarity. Firstly, we calculate a measure of the similarity between a given model view and each view in the model set, as a function of the relative transformation between them. Secondly we select a subset of possible erroneous hypotheses that correspond to peaks in similarity functions obtained in the first step. Thirdly, we determine an upper bound on the probability of correct recognition by computing the probability that every selected hypothesis gets less votes than those for the model view under consideration. The proposed method is validated using MSTAR public SAR data, which are obtained under different depression angles, configurations, and articulations     

GMM-based target classification for ground surveillance Doppler radar

An automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm, based on greedy learning of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is developed. The GMMs were obtained for a wide range of ground surveillance radar targets such as walking person(s), tracked or wheeled vehicles, animals, and clutter. Maximum-likelihood (ML) and majority-voting decision schemes were applied to these models for target classification. The corresponding classifiers were trained and tested using distinct databases of target echoes, recorded by ground surveillance radar. ML and majority-voting classifiers obtained classification rates of 88% and 96%, correspondingly. Both classifiers outperform trained human operators.     

Feature enhancement and ATR performance using nonquadratic optimization-based SAR imaging

We present an evaluation of the impact of a recently proposed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging technique on feature enhancement and automatic target recognition (ATR) performance. This image formation technique is based on nonquadratic optimization, and the images it produces appear to exhibit enhanced features. We quantify such feature enhancement through a number of criteria. The findings of our analysis indicate that the new feature-enhanced SAR image formation method provides images with higher resolution of scatterers, and better separability of different regions as compared with conventional SAR images. We also provide an ATR-based evaluation. We run recognition experiments using conventional and feature-enhanced SAR images of military targets, with three different classifiers. The first classifier is template based. The second classifier makes a decision through a likelihood test, based on Gaussian models for reflectivities. The third classifier is based on extracted locations of the dominant target scatterers. The experimental results demonstrate that the new feature-enhanced SAR imaging method can improve the recognition performance, especially in scenarios involving reduced data quality or quantity.     

Over-the-horizon radar surveillance of airfields for counterdrugapplications

Airfield surveillance utilizing over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) offers the opportunity to gather significant intelligence concerning activity levels at suspect drug smuggling airports. It also provides the potential to classify aircraft initially from observed takeoff data, which would be helpful in interdiction efforts. This paper discusses the radar signal components and signal processing techniques required to accomplish this capability. An actual takeoff, observed by SRI International's Wide Aperture Research Facility (WARF), illustrates how the range-Doppler display plays an important role in developing and automating this capability. The ultimate capability is automatic takeoff recognition, initial target classification, rate of climb indication, and track to destination-all important contributions to the counterdrug command, control, and interdiction team     

Gabor Filter Approach to Joint Feature Extraction and Target Recognition

This paper presents a new approach of improving automatic target recognition (ATR) performance by tuning adaptively the Gabor filter. The Gabor filter adopts the network structure of two layers, and its input layer constitutes the adaptive nonlinear feature extraction part, whereas the weights between output layer and input layer constitute the linear classifier. From the statistic property of high-resolution range profile (HRRP), its extracted nonstationarity degree of features is tracked to extract the discriminative features of Gabor atoms. Two experimental examples show that the Gabor filter approach with simple structure has higher recognition rate in radar target recognition from HRRP as compared with several existing methods.     

Improved SAR target detection via extended fractal features

The utility of the extended fractal (EF) feature is evaluated for the enhancement of the focus of attention (FOA) stage of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) system. Unlike more traditional SAR detection features that distinguish target pixels from the background only on the basis of contrast, the EF feature is sensitive to both the contrast and size of objects. Furthermore, the structure for the EF feature computational algorithm lends itself to very fast implementation, and it can be shown that the new feature has a CFAR-like (constant false alarm rate) property. We demonstrate the improved performance using the new feature by testing a number of different detection approaches over two databases of SAR imagery     

Support vector machines for SAR automatic target recognition

Algorithms that produce classifiers with large margins, such as support vector machines (SVMs), AdaBoost, etc, are receiving more and more attention in the literature. A real application of SVMs for synthetic aperture radar automatic target recognition (SAR/ATR) is presented and the result is compared with conventional classifiers. The SVMs are tested for classification both in closed and open sets (recognition). Experimental results showed that SVMs outperform conventional classifiers in target classification. Moreover, SVMs with the Gaussian kernels are able to form a local “bounded” decision region around each class that presents better rejection to confusers     

基于遗传算法的一种高分辨率雷达目标识别方法

目标识别是防空信息处理中的一个重要环节,而对空中目标类型的识别还没有成熟的理论。通过对高分辨雷达回波信号的分析,在遗传算法的基础上,提出了一种高分辨雷达目标识别方法,由此进行目标识别。仿真实验结果表明,该方法具有高的识别率和强的抗干扰能力。     

Wavelet preprocessing for high range resolution radarclassification

We develop a wavelet denoising scheme to aid an automatic target recognition (ATR) system in recognizing aircraft from high range resolution radar (HRR) signatures. A template matching classification technique is used with templates formed from synthetically generated signatures. The goal of the classification system is to achieve classification accuracy equivalent to that obtained with measured HRR signatures. Results suggest that a large portion of HRR signature content is nondiscriminatory. The wavelet denoising process removes the nondiscriminatory information, thereby leading to remarkable increases in classification accuracy. Results are shown for HRR signatures from six aircraft     

表面粗糙的复杂目标全极化ISAR图像快速仿真

为了获取基于模板图像的车辆、飞机等复杂目标识别所需的海量高质量逆合成孔径雷达(ISAR)图像,提出了表面粗糙的复杂目标全极化ISAR图像快速仿真方法。该方法预先对车辆和飞机等复杂目标表面粗糙程度进行分级定量描述,并以改进的射线弹跳法和等效边缘流法快速预估来自目标粗糙表面的镜面反射和多次反射贡献以及细分边缘的绕射贡献,经相干叠加获得目标的精确电磁散射数据,最后进行成像处理得到高质量全极化ISAR图像。标准体、飞机和车辆目标的仿真实验结果验证了该方法的准确性和有效性。     

Performance of 10- and 20-target MSE classifiers

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is responsible for developing the ATR (automatic target recognition) system for the DARPA-sponsored SAIP program; the baseline ATR system recognizes 10 GOB (ground order of battle) targets; the enhanced version of SAIP requires the ATR system to recognize 20 GOB targets. This paper presents ATR performance results for 10- and 20-target mean square error (MSE) classifiers using high-resolution SAR (synthetic aperture radar) imagery.     

Multi-aspect radar target recognition method based on scattering centers and HMMs classifiers

A hidden Markov model (HMM)-based method for recognizing aerial targets according to the sequential high-range-resolution (HRR) radar signature is presented. Its recognition features are the location information of scattering centers extracted from the HRR radar echoes by the relax algorithm. The HMM is used to characterize the spatio-temporal information of a target. Several HMMs are cascaded in a chain to model the variation in the target orientation and used as classifiers. Computer simulations with the inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) data are given to demonstrate that for an open-set recognition, average class-recognition rates of 84.50% and 89.88% are achieved, respectively, under two given conditions.     

ADS-B用于高精度雷达标定的方法

为了更好地解决高精度雷达标定的问题,提出了基于广播式自动相关监视系统(ADS-B)固定误差及目标回波中心动态修正的雷达标定新方法。首先分析了ADS-B位置数据误差的来源、类型及在雷达坐标系下的特征,同时对民航目标回波中心的变化作了分析建模,在此基础上进一步通过对雷达数据与ADS-B数据之差作动态联合修正,最终估算出雷达系统误差,提高了雷达系统误差标定的精度和稳定性。并利用多批次的实测数据对该标定新方法与其他方法进行了对比验证,结果表明,该方法有效提高了标定的精度和稳定性,并已成功应用于雷达标定设备中。