Synthetic Aperture Radar

The general theory of side-looking synthetic aperture radar systems is developed. A simple circuit-theory model is developed; the geometry of the system determines the nature of the prefilter and the receiver (or processor) is the postfilter. The complex distributed reflectivity density appears as the input, and receiver noise is first considered as the interference which limits performance. Analysis and optimization are carried out for three performance criteria (resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and least squares estimation of the target field). The optimum synthetic aperture length is derived in terms of the noise level and average transmitted power. Range-Doppler ambiguity limitations and optical processing are discussed briefly. The synthetic aperture concept for rotating target fields is described. It is observed that, for a physical aperture, a side-looking radar, and a rotating target field, the azimuth resolution is ?/? where ? is the change in aspect angle over which the target field is viewed, The effects of phase errors on azimuth resolution are derived in terms of the power density spectrum of the derivative of the phase errors and the performance in the absence of phase errors.     

Scanning Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar with Integrated Radiometer

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar systems are severely constrained to a narrow swath by ambiguity limitations. Here a vertically scanned-beam synthetic aperture system (SCANSAR) is proposed as a solution to this problem. The potential length of synthetic aperture must be shared between beam positions, so the along-track resolution is poorer; a direct tradeoff exists between resolution and swath width. The length of the real aperture is independently traded against the number of scanning positions. Design curves and equations are presented for spaceborne SCANSARs for altitudes between 400 and 1400 km and inner angles of incidence between 20° and 40°. When the real antenna is approximately square, it may also be used for a microwave radiometer. The combined radiometer and synthetic-aperture (RADISAR) should be useful for those applications where the poorer resolution of the radiometer is useful for some purposes, but the finer resolution of the radar is needed for others.     

VSAR: a high resolution radar system for ocean imaging

The velocity synthetic aperture radar (VSAR) is a conceptual synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based sensor system for high resolution ocean imaging. The VSAR utilizes data collected by a multielement SAR system, to extract information not only about the radar reflectivity of the observed area, but also about the radial velocity of the scatterers in each pixel. This is accomplished by making use of the phase information contained in multiple SAR images, and not just the magnitude information as in conventional SAR. Using this velocity information, the VSAR attempts to compensate for the velocity distortion inherent in conventional SAR and to reconstruct the ocean reflectivity. We present the basic theory of the VSAR system and its performance. We also provide an analysis of the VSAR imaging mechanism for a statistical model of the radar returns, designed to capture the effects of speckle and of resolution degradation due to the decorrelation of the radar returns     

Parametric Methods for Strip-Map SAR Doppler Ambiguity Resolution

Physical modeling of the Doppler centroid (DC) can be used to predict synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Doppler ambiguity when antenna attitude is controlled or measured precisely enough. It is shown that the same model proves useful even in the cases of higher attitude uncertainty, if it is combined with suitable adaptive techniques. In this paper, Doppler ambiguity resolution is formulated as a hypothesis testing problem over a domain of integer values that are directly related to the attitude uncertainty. A test statistic is derived from the entire SAR scene using data adaptive processing. A broad class of such adaptive algorithms is analyzed in a unified way, starting from the range-azimuth coupling in the frequency domain and multilook techniques. The analysis includes two well-known and two new multilook methods for Doppler ambiguity resolution. A suitable test statistic is proposed for each of these methods and its dependency on the scene spatial correlation is discussed. Experimental results confirm the robustness of the combined scheme.     

一种稳健的利用分布式小卫星获取宽域、高分辨SAR图像的方法

 传统星载合成孔径雷达(SAR)受最小天线面积条件的限制，其横向分辨率与测绘带宽度相矛盾，采用编队飞行的分布式小卫星SAR体制，可解决这一矛盾，即能够同时获得大测绘带、高分辨率的地面场景的SAR图像。主要研究如何在误差环境下抑制由小天线引入的多普勒模糊的信号处理方法。该方法利用子空间投影技术对导向矢量进行精确估计，在小卫星存在基线及其他误差时仍然能够稳健地恢复高分辨的二维SAR图像。     

SAR resolution in the presence of phase errors

The author analyzes the effects of phase errors on synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The theory is applied to the following question: how does the achievable resolution vary with the carrier frequency when optimum quadratic focus and/or optimum processing interval (synthetic aperture length) are used? Numerous related results are given, so that much of the material is tutorial. For phase errors corresponding to uncompensated motion, the best achievable RMS resolution with any phase error spectrum satisfies the derived equation. For motion-induced phase errors it is seen that resolution improves with increasing carrier frequency when the first term in the expression applies (e.g. for phase errors concentrated at low frequencies) and resolution is independent of carrier frequency when R δ/v/v is the smaller term (e.g. with broad band or high frequency phase errors)     

Coherent Doppler tomography-a technique for narrow band SAR

Some concerns regarding a technique of narrowband synthetic aperture radar (N-SAR) imaging called coherent Doppler tomography (CDT), which may be a good candidate for spaceborne applications, are addressed. Using a single-frequency signal, are addressed. Using a single-frequency signal, resolution of two tenths of a wavelength can be achieved in the point spread function if the radar platform circles the ground path to be imaged. However, the high sidelobe level of -8-dB in the point spread function results in an unacceptable dynamic range. To reduce the sidelobe level, two approaches are presented: coherent processing using multiple discrete frequencies and noncoherent subaperture processing. Simulation results demonstrate that the sidelobe level is substantially reduced by both methods. However, the resolution is degraded and the computational overhead is greatly increased for noncoherent subaperture processing. Also presented is a possible satellite geometry configuration that could utilize N-SAR processing to provide high-resolution global mapping capability     

FrFT-CSWSF:Estimating cross-range velocities of ground moving targets using multistatic synthetic aperture radar

Estimating cross-range velocity is a challenging task for space-borne synthetic aperture radar（SAR）, which is important for ground moving target indication（GMTI）. Because the velocity of a target is very small compared with that of the satellite, it is difficult to correctly estimate it using a conventional monostatic platform algorithm. To overcome this problem, a novel method employing multistatic SAR is presented in this letter. The proposed hybrid method, which is based on an extended space-time model（ESTIM） of the azimuth signal, has two steps： first, a set of finite impulse response（FIR） filter banks based on a fractional Fourier transform（FrFT） is used to separate multiple targets within a range gate; second, a cross-correlation spectrum weighted subspace fitting（CSWSF） algorithm is applied to each of the separated signals in order to estimate their respective parameters. As verified through computer simulation with the constellations of Cartwheel, Pendulum and Helix, this proposed time-frequency-subspace method effectively improves the estimation precision of the cross-range velocities of multiple targets.     

机动目标的逆合成孔径雷达成像

 逆合成孔径雷达(ISAR)和合成孔径雷达 (SAR)都是利用目标 (场景)与雷达的相对运动,提高横向分辨率,实现对目标 (场景 )的成像。SAR的运动方是雷达平台,可控制作平稳飞行,且用仪器测校其偏离误差;ISAR的运动方通常是非合作目标,运动不受控制,且难以精确测量。当目标作机动飞行时,以目标作固定基准,雷达等效地在空间形成流形复杂的逆合成孔径 (阵列 ),对这种情况下成像的问题进行了系统的研究。     

弹载合成孔径雷达自适应重频分析与设计

弹载合成孔径雷达(Synthetic Aperture Radar,SAR)的目标距离、视线角由于高速逼近目标而快速变化,这导致传统的固定脉冲重复频率(Pulse Repetition Frequency,PRF)(简称重频)波形难以兼顾弹载SAR雷达在成像各方面的约束条件,故需要根据当前弹体运动和弹目关系变化情况实时计算重频。详细分析了影响重频选择的各项因素,包括避免距离模糊、方位模糊、高度杂波、发射遮挡影响及SAR成像分辨率、系统相参性要求等影响因素,并设计了自适应重频计算的工作流程。某SAR雷达系统实验表明,该设计能够在实际飞行弹道条件下根据实际弹目关系自适应调整脉冲重复频率,从而更好地实现SAR雷达系统的工作性能,有效解决了固定重频波形不能适应弹载SAR工作条件的难题。     

一种提高距离分辨率的FMCW SAR RD成像算法

调频连续波合成孔径雷达（FMCW SAR）是一种新近提出来的成像雷达体制,它结合调频连续波与合成孔径成像技术,具有体积小、重量轻、成本低、分辨率高等一系列优点。从频谱的角度进行分析,FMCW SAR的距离分辨率取决于频率测量分辨率。文章研究了一种FMCW SAR高距离分辨率成像算法——利用FFT得到差频信号谱峰的粗略范围,再对这一范围进行ChirpZ变换,从而实现距离高精度估计,并且避免了大的计算量。仿真结果表明该方法的有效性。     

Digital synthetic aperture radar processing via optical computers

A method for performing digital phase history processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data using optical computers is proposed. The method has nothing in common with the old analog optical SAR processing methods (which used lenses), but is rather a totally digital (numerical) technique for computing the individual complex pixel values based on matrix-vector multiplications. The method can be expected to greatly increase the potential processing speed and coverage possibilities of high-resolution digital SAR systems     

Advances in non-linear apodization

Selected new methods and applications of non-linear apodization for irregularly-shaped and parse coherent apertures and arrays are presented. The benefits include unproved impulse response performance, i.e., reduced peak sidelobes and integrated sidelobe power, along with improved mainlobe resolution, compared to classic windowing techniques. Nonlinear apodization (NLA) techniques can also serve as powerful engines for effective superresolution and bandwidth extrapolation of coherent data for filling sparse apertures. The sparse aperture filling property of superresolution algorithms for radar data forms the basis for a new concept which is introduced here: synthetic multiple aperture radar technology (SMART). Increased swath and/or reduced antenna size are some of the benefits postulated for SMART applied to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. The benefits of these new methods and applications for nonlinear apodization are then demonstrated for two specific applications: 1) sidelobe control for Y-type synthetic aperture radiometers, such as the European Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) system (Kerr et al.) and JPL's proposed GeoSTAR (Lambrigsten) concept; and, 2) filling of sparse synthetic aperture radar data by exploiting the bandwidth extrapolation properties of nonlinear apodization based superresolution techniques. The methods that have been developed and demonstrated herein have potential application to a wide range of passive and active microwave remote sensing and radar systems.     

基于数值计算的机载SAR空变运动补偿算法

针对机载合成孔径雷达(SAR)高分辨率宽测绘带(HRWS)成像问题,在分析结合两步运动误差补偿的距离徙动算法基础上,提出一种基于数值计算的空变运动误差补偿算法。通过对粗聚焦图像进行分块,在子块的两维波数域进行空变运动补偿,补偿的相位包括方位相位误差、距离相位误差以及方位和距离的耦合相位,因此该算法在复杂航迹、高分辨和宽测绘带情况下仍具有较好的鲁棒性。最后对SAR仿真数据和实测数据进行处理,并与结合两步运动误差补偿的距离徙动算法进行比较,处理结果表明该算法能够更好地补偿空变运动误差。     

The Segmented Aperture Synthetic Aperture Radar (SASAR)

A new concept in synthetic aperture radar, called SASAR, which uses a segmented aperture, is described. Use of the segmented aperture allows appreciable extra receiving antenna gain to be realized. Each subarray of the receive antenna is equal in length to the transmit antenna; the system performance is increased approximately by a factor equal to the number of subarrays. To allow array combination of the subarray signal outputs requires a phase-shift factor (varying with azimuth) to be applied to each subarray signal. A digital implementation of this preprocessor is sketched out; it uses a push-down storage stack to store the range histories for a synthetic aperture from each subarray. Appropriate phase shifts are added to the stacks and a sum of stack values then provides the combined output range history sequence. Possibilities of using analog delay lines for preprocessing are also discussed. Pattern errors due to subarray size and receive array near field are examined and constraints are given.     

Multitarget detection using synthetic sampled aperture radars

A new multitarget detection technique using synthetic sampled aperture radar (SSAMAR) is presented. In contrast with the standard approach to multitarget detection, this technique may not require the use of phase shifting or tapering hardware. SSAMAR doubles the target pattern resolution, attenuates the sidelobes to about -27 dB, and significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Computer simulation is used to illustrate and validate this technique. Multitarget patterns for both standard and SSAMAR operations are provided     

Modeling and a Correlation Algorithm for Spaceborne SAR Signals

A mathematical model of a spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) response is presented. The associated SAR system performance, in terms of the resolution capability, is also discussed. The analysis of spaceborne SAR target response indicates that the SAR correlation problem is a two-dimensional one with a linear shift-variant response function. A new digital processing algorithm is proposed here in order to realize an economical digital SAR correlation system. The proposed algorithm treats the two-dimensional correlation by a combination of frequency domain fast correlation in the azimuth dimension and a time-domain convolver type of operation in the range dimension. Finally, digitally correlated SEASAT satellite SAR imagery is used in an exemplary sense to validate the SAR response model and the new digital processing technique developed.     

一种新颖的超高分辨率SAR频率域反投影成像算法

超高分辨率条件下,机载合成孔径雷达（SAR）发射信号带宽大,合成孔径时间比较长,对成像处理算法的精度和效率要求较高。现有近似频率域处理和时间域滤波反投影（FBP）算法聚焦SAR数据时均存在诸多问题。基于微局部分析方法,提出了一种新颖的频率域滤波反投影（FD-FBP）成像处理方案。首先,利用Keystone变换简化了数据距离多普勒（RD）域徙动表达式。然后,在RD域进行反投影操作,对参考位置处反投影数据进行移位、相位补偿和FFT等操作即可以得到图像,从而在保证算法精确性的前提下有效降低了运算效率,实现了频率域方法的高效率和时间域方法的精确性特点的结合。最后,点目标仿真和实测数据处理以及与FBP等算法的对比验证了该方法的有效性。     

合成孔径雷达系统建模、仿真与信号处理初探

作为雷达技术发展历史中的里程碑,合成孔径雷达(SAR)通过使用空中合成天线阵列技术及先进的目标回波信号处理技术能够提供清晰的地球表面图像。由于它的这一突出特点,SAR已经成为许多飞行器的重要任务载荷并被广泛应用于军事及民用领域。从航空电子系统总体需求角度出发,为了深刻理解SAR系统的工作原理并得到更好的SAR图像产品,有必要对系统数学模型的建立、SAR回波信号的仿真以及信号处理算法进行深入的研究。本文试图从这三方面讨论SAR系统设计中的关键问题。     

Power beaming providing a space power infrastructure

A study based on two levels of technology maturity, which applies to the power beaming concept to four planned satellite constellations, is described. The analysis shows that with currently available technology, power beaming can provide mass savings to constellations to orbits ranging from low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit. Two constellations, a space surveillance and tracking system and space-based radar, can be supported with current technology. The other two constellations, a space-based laser array and a boost surveillance and tracking system, will require power and transmission system improvements before their break-even specific mass is achieved. A doubling of SP-100 conversion efficiency from 10 to 20% would meet or exceed break-even for these constellations