Moving target imaging algorithm for SAR data

A digital processing algorithm for fine-resolution imaging of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) moving targets is described. The targets may have any translational and rotational motion components relative to the data collection platform. The algorithm requires the presence of up to three prominent points in the image of the target; the signals from these points provide estimates of the unknown target motion parameters. Phase compensation and data formatting based on these estimates eliminate motion-induced phase errors. This algorithm has been implemented on a VAX computer and used to process both simulated and real SAR data of moving targets. Results obtained using the simulated data are presented     

Multiple moving target detection and trajectory estimation using a single SAR sensor

A novel methodology is presented for determining the velocity and location of multiple moving targets using a single strip-map synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor. The so-called azimuth position uncertainty problem is therefore solved. The method exploits the structure of the amplitude and phase modulations of the returned echo from a moving target in the Fourier domain. A crucial step in the whole processing scheme is a matched filtering, depending on the moving target parameters, that simultaneously accounts for range migration and compresses two-dimensional signatures into one-dimensional ones without losing moving target information. A generalized likelihood ratio test approach is adopted to detect moving targets and derive their trajectory parameters. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated with synthetic and real data covering a wide range of targets velocities and signal-to-clutter ratios (SCRs). Even in the case of parallel to platform moving target motion, the most unfavorable scenario, the proposed method yields good results for, roughly, SCR > 10 dB.     

SAR imaging of moving targets

A method of forming synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of moving targets without using any specific knowledge of the target motion is presented. The new method uses a unique processing kernel that involves a one-dimensional interpolation of the deramped phase history which we call keystone formatting. This preprocessing simultaneously eliminates the effects of linear range migration for all moving targets regardless of their unknown velocity. Step two of the moving target imaging technique involves a two-dimensional focusing of the movers to remove residual quadratic range migration errors. The third and last step removes cubic and higher order defocusing terms. This imaging technique is demonstrated using SAR data collected as part of DARPA's Moving Target Exploitation (MTE) program     

Detecting moving targets in SAR imagery by focusing

A new method for detecting moving targets in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image is presented. It involves segmenting a complex-valued SAR image into patches, focusing each patch separately, and measuring the sharpness increase in the focused patch. The algorithm is sensitive to azimuth velocities and is exquisitely sensitive to radial accelerations of the target, allowing it to detect motion in any direction. It is complementary to conventional Doppler-sensing moving target indicators, which can sense only the radial velocity of rapidly moving targets.     

Target-Motion-Induced Radar Imaging

Imaging from ground-based (stationary) radars of moving targets is often possible by utilizing a "synthetic aperture" developed from the target motion itself. The theory and experimental results associated with such processing are addressed. An aircraft is imaged from both a straight flight and a turn with recognizable results. Analysis shows that two-phase components exist in the radar return, one being gross velocity induced, the other being interscatterer interference within the target itself. The former phase must be removed prior to imaging and techniques are developed for this task. Preprocessing, range curvature, range alignment, motion compensation, and presumming are all addressed prior to presenting the experimental results. Coherence processing intervals, range collapsing, and range realignment are all examined during the processing aspects of the paper.     

Moving Targets Processing in SAR Spatial Domain

This paper presents a novel technique to estimate the initial coordinates and velocity vector of moving targets, including those with velocities above the Nyquist limit, using a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor without increasing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The basic reasoning is that, although the returned echoes may be undersampled in the azimuth direction, their phase and amplitude are informative with respect to the moving target trajectory parameters. Therefore, the so-called blind angle ambiguity, inherent to systems using a single SAR sensor, is overcome. The proposed method samples the data in the spatial domain, along the signature curve which depends on the moving target trajectory parameters. The resulting algorithm is a highly efficient (from the computational point of view) ID matched filter. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is illustrated using simulated SAR data and real data from the MSTAR public release data set, corresponding to a static SAR scene and a static BTR-60 with simulated motion.     

基于时间反转和降阶Keystone的SAR-GMTI快速聚焦方法

对合成孔径雷达（SAR）地面运动目标聚焦技术进行了研究。针对现有运动目标聚焦方法存在的问题,提出了一种基于时间反转和降阶Keystone的SAR地面运动目标检测（SAR-GMTI）快速聚焦方法。首先,根据目标的机动特性建立了3阶距离模型;其次,针对目标多普勒中心模糊引起的多普勒谱分裂现象,结合所提时间反转处理（TRP）和降阶Keystone变换处理估计出运动目标2阶参数。此后,构造2阶相位补偿函数补偿运动目标的2阶距离徙动和多普勒徙动,从而完成运动目标的聚焦。同时,所提方法没有任何参数搜索过程,降低了计算复杂度。最后,仿真实验验证了所提算法的正确性和有效性。     

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.     

基于杂波对消-自聚焦的多通道SAR-GMTI

对超高频(UHF)波段多通道合成孔径雷达(SAR)动目标检测技术进行研究,解决了长相干积累时间导致动目标在方位向散焦严重的问题。采用分块自聚焦技术对多通道SAR地面移动目标指示(GMTI)系统自适应杂波抑制后的SAR图像进行处理,改善杂波抑制后的SAR图像中动目标的聚焦情况,增强动目标与周围剩余杂波的对比度,进而提高恒虚警率(CFAR)检测的性能。与传统杂波抑制后直接进行CFAR检测方法相比较,该方法降低了检测虚警概率。实测数据处理结果显示动目标的信杂比明显提高,动目标方位向聚焦成功,证明了该方法的有效性。     

基于CZT的机载并行双站斜视SAR成像算法

建立了机载并行双站斜视合成孔径雷达(SAR)的几何模型,给出了雷达回波的数学表达式,推导了它的二维频谱并对其特点做了分析。在二维频域内,先用聚焦函数对观测场景中心的点目标做精确成像,然后用Chirp-Z变换(CZT)校正中心点两侧目标回波的距离徙动,再通过方位向逆傅里叶变换得到了雷达图像。该算法利用了CZT能够处理非线性调频信号的特点,简化了处理过程,提高了计算效率和成像精度。仿真实验验证了这种基于CZT的新算法在处理并行双站斜视SAR数据时的有效性。     

High Range Resolution Profiles as Motion-Invariant Features for Moving Ground Targets Identification in SAR-Based Automatic Target Recognition

A quantitative model analysis is presented to justify the extraction of high range resolution (HRR) profiles from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images as motion-invariant features for identifying moving ground targets. A comparative study is conducted to assess the effectiveness in the identification process between using HRR profiles and SAR images as target signatures. The results indicate that HRR profiles are just as viable as SAR image for identification. Furthermore, a score-level multi-look fusion identification method has been investigated. It is found that a correct accurate identification rate of greater than 99 percent, a low false alarm rate, and a high level of identification confidence can be achieved, providing very robust performance.     

Detection of moving targets in wideband SAR

A likelihood ratio is proposed for moving target detection in a wideband (WB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. WB is defined here as any systems having a large fractional bandwidth, i.e., an ultra wide frequency band combined with a wide antenna beam. The developed method combines time-domain fast backprojection SAR processing methods with moving target detection using space-time processing. The proposed method reduces computational load when sets of relative speeds can be tested using the same clutter-suppressed subaperture beams. The proposed method is tested on narrowband radar data.     

Airborne array aperture UWB UHF radar-motivation and systemconsiderations

This paper discusses the necessity, feasibility, and technology of FOPEN GMTI. It argues that this functionality may be one mode in a multi-function UWB UHF system, which jointly possesses the capabilities for air target MTI and high resolution FOPEN SAR. The radar platform may be a UAV or an aircraft, whereas, we propose to use the push boom type of antenna mounting previously adopted with the advantage for the CARABAS II UWB VHF SAR. Presently, the push booms will hold a set of UWB UHF antenna elements. This paper relates GMTI to SAR, extended from imaging stationary ground to the 4-parameter set of targets in linear and uniform motion relative to ground. It is recognised that this extended imaging problem depends on one new parameter, i.e., the SAR focusing velocity. The required signal processing may be tackled in an efficient manner by a hierarchical scheme based on iteratively merging subapertures and increasing the resolution. Rejection of stationary clutter and detection occurs on all levels of increasing resolution. This paper also provides a brief presentation of the Swedish FOA efforts to produce an experimental demonstrator of this multi-function radar system     

利用分数阶Fourier域滤波的机载SAR多运动目标检测

 强度相差较大的多运动目标检测是机载合成孔径雷达 ( SAR)技术的一个重点和难点,传统的频域滤波和现代的时频分布方法都无法解决这个问题。首先分析了机载 SAR运动目标回波本质上为线性调频信号,据此提出一种基于分数阶 Fourier域滤波的运动目标检测新方法,并且应用逐次消去的思想有效地解决了强度相差较大的多目标检测问题。仿真的结果验证了算法的有效性。     

GMTI along-track interferometry experiment

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) along track interferometry (ATI) has been used extensively to measure ocean surface currents. Given its ability to measure small velocities (/spl sim/ 10 cm/s) of relatively radar-dark water surfaces, there is great potential that this technique can be adapted for ground moving target indication (GMTI) applications, particularly as a method for detecting very slow targets with small radar cross-sections. In this paper we describe preliminary results from an ATI GMTI experiment. The SAR data described herein were collected by the dual-frequency NASA/JPL airborne radar in its standard dual-baseline ATI mode. The radar system imaged a variety of control targets including a pickup truck, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars, a bicycle, and pedestrians over multiple flight passes. The control targets had horizontal velocities of less than 5 m/s. The cross-sections of the targets were not purposely enhanced, although the targets' reflectivities may have been affected by the existence of the GPS equipment used to record the targets' positions. Single-look and multiple-look interferograms processed to the full azimuth resolution were analyzed. In the data processed to date, all of the targets were observed by visual inspection in at least one of the four combinations of dual-frequency, dual-baseline interferometric data. This extremely promising result demonstrates the potential of ATI for GMTI applications.     

Multifrequency Imaging of Radar Turntable Data

In recent years synthetic-aperture radars (SAR) have proven to be very useful two-dimensional imaging tools in various fields. Based on the synthetic-aperture concepts, different imaging modes are possibe with various operating characteristics. We describe a special case where circular-projection radar data are coherently processed to yield both azimuth and range resoultion. Experiments are performed using data obtained from the radar target scatter site (RAT SCAT) radar cross-section facility. Fairly good results are obtained which illustrate the versatility of coherent syntheticaperture processing of pulse-to-pulse high-range-resolution radar returns. A discrete multifrequency stepped and pulsed waveform is the basic transmitted signal from which range-Doppler images are generated. The RAT SCAT turntable facility allows interesting model targets to be illuminated from which radar images can then be computed. One such application of the processing is described.     

Low-cost technology for multimode radar

A flexible test bed radar architecture is described which includes an integrated RF electronics package that can support multiple radar applications, including surveillance, fire control, target acquisition, and tracking. This type of architecture can significantly reduce the cost, power, size, and weight of electronics on future weapon delivery platforms. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is developing technology to support multimode radar requirements. These requirements include the detection and location of moving or stationary low radar cross section targets in heavy ground clutter and the classification and/or recognition of these targets. We address these requirements with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products and the integration of several enabling technologies. The test bed radar includes a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) for frequency-diverse waveform generation, a flexible wideband transceiver for bandwidth extension and frequency translation, and an open architecture signal processor with embedded wideband analog-to-digital converters for real-time acquisition and processing. Efficient signal processing algorithms have been developed to demonstrate multimode radar capability. This paper discusses the various subassemblies, algorithm efficiency, and field experiment results     

Airborne along-track interferometry for GMTI

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Along-Track Interferometry (ATI) has been used extensively to measure ocean surface currents. Given its ability to measure small velocities (˜10 cmls) of relatively radar-dark water surfaces, there is great potential that this technique can be adapted for ground moving target indication (GMTI) applications, particularly as a method for detecting very slow targets with small radar cross-sections. Herein, we describe preliminary results from an ATI GMTI experiment. The SAR data described were collected by the dual-frequency NASAIJPL airborne radar in its standard dual-baseline ATI mode. The radar system imaged a variety of control targets including a pick-up truck, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars, a bicycle, and pedestrians over multiple flight passes. The control targets had horizontal velocities of less than 5 m/s. The cross-sections of the targets were not purposely enhanced, although the targets' refiectivities may have been affected by the existence of the GPS equipment used to record the targets' positions. Single-look and multiple-look interferograms processed to the full azimuth resolution were analyzed. In the data processed to date, all of the targets were observed by visual inspection in at least one of the four combinations of dual-frequency, dual-baseline interferometric data. This extremely promising result demonstrates the potential of ATI for GMTI applications.     

Data fusion for ground moving target tracking

The aim of ground surveillance is the large scale, continuous and near real time determination of a dynamical ground picture. This task comprises detection and tracking of moving single targets and convoys, mobile weapon systems, and military equipment. The sensors of choice are airborne Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). As ground target tracking often suffers from dense target situations, high clutter, and low visibility, the integration and fusion of external background information is essential for providing precise and continuous tracks. We present Multi Hypotheses techniques for tracking several targets in complex ground situations with clutter. Methods to incorporate topographic information, in particular digital road maps, are described and demonstrated.