Computer Simulation of Synthetic Aperture Radar Images of Three-Dimensional Objects

A digital simulation of coherent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of three-dimensional objects is described. The simulation is intended to produce representative SAR images that would be suitable for image analysis and pattern recognition studies. The procedure involves a modeling of the object using a combination of three-dimensional quadratic shapes yielding a smooth surface representation. The radar images of these models are then computed using physical optics scattering theory. Finite resolution both in range and cross-range direction is incorporated via a theoretical analysis which results in a simple Fourier transform representation of an equivalent "offset" window filter. Examples of the computer simulation for both infinite resolution and blurred or finite resolution are given for a KC-135 aircraft model.     

方位扫描SAR区域成像研究

研究在SAR区域成像中,通过天线波束方位扫描扩大成像区方位宽度的机理以及信号处理方法。首先描述天线波束扫描的几何关系,推导出为达到要求的成像分辨率以及成像区方位宽度所需的天线波束扫描角速度和扫描角度的计算公式。分析了成像区位置与载机航迹的几何关系。然后讨论方位扫描SAR区域成像信号处理方法,并给出系统点目标响应仿真结果。最后,用试飞实测数据成像做了验证。     

Tradeoff between Picture Element Dimensions and Noncoherent Averaging in Side-Looking Airborne Radar

An experiment was performed to determine the effect on radar image interpretation of: 1) rectangular instead of square pixels, and 2) spatial resolution in the presence of noncoherent averaging. The result is a proof of the hypothesis that interpretability of images is determined by a "spatial-gray-level (SGL) resolution volume" that is the product of the range resolution, the azimuth resolution, and a gray-level resolution. The last is defined as the ratio of the value exceeded 10 percent of the time to that exceeded 90 percent of the time for a chi-square distribution having twice as many degrees of freedom as the number of independent samples averaged. Since the area of the pixel enters, rather than explicit dependence on range or azimuth resolution, rectangular pixels are as interpretable as square pixels having the same area. The SGL accounts for the effect of reduction in fading on interpretability. The numerical interpretability assigned by experienced image interpreters asked to look for specific classes of targets was found to fall exponentially with increasing SGL volume, with a scale determined by the class of target. The experiment showed that, for most of the tasks assigned to the interpreters, the interpretability is reduced to 37 percent for a fully focussed synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) (1-look) for a 10-m (33-ft) square pixel. With an infinite number of samples averaged, the comparable square-pixel dimension is 48 m (157 ft). This is consistent with results obtained using LANDSAT images of about 60-m resolution.     

Simultaneous ISAR imaging of group targets flying in formation

This paper proposes a novel inverse synthetic aperture radar(ISAR) imaging method based on second-order keystone transform(KT) and Sandglass transform for group targets flying in a formation with constant accelerated rectilinear motion in the same radar beam. First, range curvature and range walk of each sub-target among group targets are corrected by the second-order KT combined with the quadratic phase term compensation. After range alignment, the signals in each range frequency cell can be modelled as multiple chirp signals and then the Sandglass transform is utilized to cross-range imaging, which transforms the time–frequency distribution of the signals in each range frequency cell into beelines parallel to the slow time axis simultaneously. Finally, cross-range profiles of group targets in each range frequency cell are obtained via a projection of the perk of every scatterer in the two-dimensional accumulation plane onto the frequency axis. The advantage of the proposed method is that it can align range profiles of each sub-target simultaneously and image cross-range profiles directly without separating the returned signals, which simplifies the operation procedure. Simulation results are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Radar target classification of commercial aircraft

With the increased availability of coherent wideband radars there has been a renewed interest in radar target recognition. A large bandwidth gives high resolution in range which means target discrimination may be possible. Coherence makes cross-range resolution and radar images possible. Some of the problems of classifying high resolution range profiles (HRRPs) are examined and simple preprocessing techniques which may aid subsequent target classification are investigated. These techniques are applied to HRRP data acquired at a local airport using the Microwave Radar Division (MRD) mobile radar facility It is found that Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft can be reliably distinguished over a range of aspect angles. This augers well for future target classification studies using HRRPs     

Motion compensation for ISAR and noise effect

A method of motion compensation for inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) is proposed. The techniques of interpolation, cross correlation, and estimation are used together. Essential to the method is the fact that avoiding cross-range image aliasing due to Doppler ambiguities requires range profiles to be generated at an adequate rate. The effect of noise on motion compensation is studied by means of simulation. The quality of the reconstructed image is used to evaluate the method     

Enhanced resolution in simple radars

Many simple radars use fact-risetime pulses, but wide bandwidth does not translate into corresponding high resolution since the spectrum is far from flat. A scheme for enhancing down- and cross-range resolution of multiple targets through a two-step partial equalization of the spectrum is illustrated by detailed computer simulation, with emphasis on the tradeoffs between resolution and signal-to-noise ratios. Three examples are treated: two equal scattering centers, two unequal scattering centers, and compound target     

Range-Doppler Imaging with Motion through Resolution Cells

Doppler processing in pulsed radar is analyzed for time intervals which involve motion through range resolution cells, the emphasis being on the range-Doppler imaging of a rigid rotating body. The objective of the theory is to derive a method for compensating for motion through range and cross-range resolution cells. The compensation ion procedure described is compatible with optical data processing. With such a two-dimensional processor, the method permits simultaneous eous compensation for all points in the target field. The s consists of taking the Fourier transform in the range dimension, followed by a gentle distortion of this range-transform plane, and that followed by a two-dimensional Fourier transform. Two implementations with experimental results are briefly mentioned. One implementation is all optical and utilizes a holographic hyperbolic lens and/or holographic conical lens. The other implementation, involves applying the appropriate te distortion electronically as th " range sweeps" from the pulse train are received and put on film.     

SAR image formation via semiparametric spectral estimation

A new algorithm, referred to as the SPAR (Semiparametric) algorithm, is presented herein for target feature extraction and complex image formation via synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The algorithm is based on a flexible data model that models each target scatterer as a two-dimensional (2-D) complex sinusoid with arbitrary unknown amplitude and constant phase in cross-range and with constant amplitude and phase in range. By attempting to deal with one corner reflector, such as one dihedral or trihedral, at a time, the algorithm can be used to effectively mitigate the artifacts in the SAR images due to the flexible data model. Another advantage of SPAR is that it can be used to obtain initial conditions needed by other parametric target feature extraction methods to reduce the total amount of computations needed. Both numerical and experimental examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm     

Automatic recognition of ISAR ship images

Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) produces images of ships at sea which human operators can be trained to recognize. Because ISAR uses the ship's own varying angular motions (roll, pitch, and yaw) for cross-range resolution, the viewing aspect and cross-range scale factor are continually changing on time scales of a few seconds. This and other characteristics of ISAR imaging make the problem of automatic recognition of ISAR images quite distinct from the recognition of optical images. The nature of ISAR imaging of ships, and single-frame and multiple-frame techniques for segmentation, feature extraction, and classification are described. Results are shown which illustrate a capability for automatic recognition of ISAR ship imagery     

Separation of target rigid body and micro-doppler effects in ISAR imaging

Micro-Doppler (m-D) effect is caused by moving parts of the radar target. It can cover rigid parts of a target and degrade the inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image. Separation of the patterns caused by stationary parts of the target from those caused by moving (rotating or vibrating) parts is the topic of this paper. Two techniques for separation of the rigid part from the rotating parts have been proposed. The first technique is based on time-frequency (TF) representation with sliding window and order statistics techniques. The first step in this technique is recognition of rigid parts in the range/cross-range plane. In the second step, reviewed TF representation and order statistics setup are employed to obtain signals caused by moving parts. The second technique can be applied in the case of very emphatic m-D effect. In the first step the rotating parts are recognized, based on the inverse Radon transform (RT). After masking these patterns, a radar image with the rigid body reflection can be obtained. The proposed methods are illustrated by examples     

基于稀疏表示的多雷达信号二维融合处理

多雷达信号融合通过对多视角和多频带雷达信号进行相干融合,可以提高图像的距离和方位向分辨率.为了克服基于谱估计的多雷达信号融合方法稳健性严重依赖于散射点个数估计精度和二维极点配对精度的问题,在深入研究逆合成孔径雷达(ISAR)信号的基础上,构造了多雷达信号二维融合的线性表示模型,将融合处理转化为一个信号表示问题;充分挖掘...     

基于GPS／DR的车辆导航系统研究

本文研究了GPS和航位推算系统的组合导航技术，给出了GPS／DR组合导航系统的设计方案。由GPS接收机、压电陀螺仪和车载里程仪组成的多传感器系统通过卡尔曼滤波器实现信息融合，以提高GPS／DR组合系统导航精度。同时也对GPS／DR系统的MAP图像处理、软件流程和工程实现做了简要说明。     

Low-Error Bearing Estimation in Shallow Water

The multipath effect due to sound propagation in shallow water causes bearing errors in horizontal line arrays for all angles different from broadside when conventional resolution methods like beamformer or maximum entropy method are used. Error-free bearing estimates can be achieved only by means of generalized power estimators which use a priori knowledge about the spatial channel statistics. This a priori knowledge is usually unknown. The method described makes use of a pilot source which transmits training signals in order to achieve an estimate for a suboptimum spatial signal covariance matrix which is used for field matching.     

A technique for enhanced slant range resolution for SAR systems inknowledge-based environment

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an airborne (or spaceborne) radar mapping technique for generating high resolution maps of surface target areas including terrain. High resolution is achieved by coherently combining the returns from a number of radar transmissions. The resolution of the images is determined by the parameters of the emissions, with more data giving greater resolution. A requirement of the Microwave Radar Division's SAR radar is to provide classification of targets. This paper presents a technique for enhancing slant range resolution in SAR images by dithering the carrier centre frequency of the transmitted signal. The procedure controls the radar waveforms so they will optimally perform the classification function, rather than provide an image of best quality. It is shown that a Knowledge-Based engineering approach to determining the waveform of the radar gives considerably improved performance as a classifier of targets (of large radar cross-section), even though the corresponding image is degraded     

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.     

机载脉冲多普勒雷达DBS技术

 本文从多普勒谱分辨理论出发,分析了DBS成象的基本原理,实现DBS成象的实时信号处理过程,提出了DBS实时数字信号处理方案。通过计算机模拟试验表明,在雷达天线保持匀速扫描状态时,系统的多普勒波束锐化比可达17.4:1左右,并可对载机前方±15°—60°方位范围内提供一幅大面积的,高分辨力的扇形雷达图象。     

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。     

A new algorithm for the formation of ISAR images

A new technique for implementing the enhanced image processing (EIP) algorithm for the formation of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images is presented. The EIP algorithm is required when, during the formation of an image, scattering centers on a target move out of range and/or Doppler resolution cells. This phenomenon is common for high resolution imagery of practical-sized targets. The method presented is based entirely on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and therefore does not require the interpolation schemes that are prevalent in the standard EIP implementation. A brief review of the theory of radar imaging is presented to establish the notation for the work. Following the presentation of the new algorithm, a simple example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new technique. In addition work is presented that demonstrates the processing required to reduce the sidelobes in imagery generated by the EIP technique     

Range-Doppler Imaging of Rotating Objects

During the integration time required to obtain fine Dopplerfrequency resolution in a range-Doppler imaging radar, a point on a rotating object may move through several range and Doppler resolution cells and produce a smeared image. This motion can be compensated by storing the appropriately processed return pulse, and the angular coordinates are determined by the angular coordinates of the radar antenna. The resulting stored data represents the three-dimensional Fourier transform of the object reflectivity density, and hence can be processed by an inverse Fourier transformation. Also included is an analysis of the three-dimensional radar/object geometry with separate source and receiver locations. The effects of various system aberrations are investigated and experimental results from a microwave test range which demonstrate the image improvement are presented.