Hard Limiting in Synthetic Aperture Signal Processing

In synthetic aperture radar a large linear phased array is formed from the rapid movement of a single element through each position in the array. Storage and coherent combining of the successive radar echoes are central to the array-forming process. Optical processing is the most common technique because of the efficiency with which Fourier transformation may be accomplished with simple optics. Real-time operation, however, requires all-electronic processing, which is difficult to accomplish because of the huge quantity of data to be manipulated. Dynamic range compression by hard limiting may ease the problem by reducing the number of bits per frame. The effects of hard limiting are analyzed in this paper. It is shown that large targets simultaneously illuminated by the radar antenna will produce image targets or ghosts displaced in angle. Statistically homogeneous clutter will "linearize" the hard-limited receiver and suppress the ghosts without loss in contrast, as does thermal noise if it is larger than the target echoes. Pulse compression reduces the probability of images from prominent targets. Judicious choice of the pulse-compression waveform is a powerful tool for destroying coherent buildup of images from all large targets not in the same range resolution cell. Linear FM, the most common choice, unfortunately does not exhibit this desirable property.     

Analog clutter cancellation algorithms for dynamic range reduction

A technique that effectively reduces the dynamic range of the input signal in a radar receiver prior to digitization is presented. The dynamic range reduction is accomplished through a process that predicts the next radar return signal from the previous return signals, generates a replica waveform, and subtracts this replica waveform from the radar return signal prior to digitization. This process allows the radar return signal to be digitized without distortion by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a limited dynamic range. The full dynamic range of the radar return signal is then restored by adding the replica waveform to the ADC output. Test and evaluation results using both synthetic and recorded radar data demonstrate in excess of a 30-dB reduction in the dynamic range of the signal at the ADC input when strong clutter is present     

Block floating point for radar data

Integer, floating point, and block floating point (BFP) data formats are analyzed and compared in order to establish the mathematical tools for selection of an optimal format which fulfils the demands of high resolution radar (SAR) data to large dynamic range and adequate S/N. The analysis takes quantization noise and saturation distortion into account and concludes that it is preferred to use small blocks and a (new) modified BFP format applying fractional exponents. Data from the EMISAR radar system are applied to illustrate the merits of the different schemes     

超分辨距离-多普勒成像的动态优化方法

提出了超分辨距离多普勒成像的动态优化方法,基本思想是利用正则化图像重建方法及动态优化算法求出雷达目标反射率的最小二乘估计。还利用FFT大大提高了动态优化算法的计算效率。用B-52飞机缩比金属模型微波暗室转台实验数据和Boeing-727飞机外场实测数据进行成像的初步结果表明,采用超分辨成像方法可以获得更高的图像分辨力;或用较小的信号带宽和成像总转角,可以获得相同质量的图像。进一步研究发现,如果能充分利用成像区域中更多的先验信息,动态优化方法可望能提供更好的分辨性能。     

Multiple moving target feature extraction for airborne HRR radar

This study considers the clutter suppression and feature extraction of multiple moving targets for airborne high range resolution (HRR) phased array radar. To avoid the range migration problems that occur in the HRR radar data, we divide each HRR profile into nonoverlapping low range resolution segments. No information is lost due to the division and hence no loss of resolution occurs. We show how to use a vector auto-regressive filtering technique to suppress the clutter. Then a relaxation-based parameter estimation algorithm is presented for multiple moving target feature extraction. Numerical results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm     

一种孔径和频率二维稀疏的步进频SAR成像方法

 步进频率信号(SFWs)在不增加雷达系统瞬时带宽的情况下能够获得高的距离向分辨率的同时,也存在着抗干扰能力较差及其等效重复频率较低的问题,并且在方位向积累时间内由于雷达载机工作状态的变化,会导致方位向的数据录取不完整。针对上述问题,提出一种孔径和频率二维稀疏的步进频合成孔径雷达(SAR)成像方法。首先,分析了稀疏步进频率信号(SSFWs)的SAR成像模型,然后基于压缩感知理论完成距离向成像处理。其次,针对稀疏孔径的回波数据,通过构造成像算子和压缩感知重建模型的方法实现其距离徙动校正和方位压缩处理,进而获得二维成像结果。相比于传统的步进频率信号SAR成像,利用所提方法能够在少量的频率资源和雷达回波数据情况下实现准确的SAR成像。最后,通过对仿真和实测的步进频率雷达数据进行成像处理,验证了所提方法的有效性和可行性。     

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     

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     

Synthetic Aperture Processing with Limited Storage and Presumming

The number of transmitted pulses associated with the Doppler histories of a side-looking radar may greatly exceed the desired azimuth compression ratio of the system. This discrepancy is taxing if the storage required for the azimuth processing is provided by cores, magnetic drums, and the like. Thus, as a practical matter, one considers presumming of the data prior to correlation in an attempt to achieve the desired performance with a minimum amount of digital storage. In this paper, the optimum (in terms of resolution) presummer is derived, along with the optimum apportionment of the available storage capacity between the presumming and correlation operations. Under the condition (or generally pessimistic approximation) that the illumination pattern of the antenna uniformly illuminates a Doppler bandwidth equal to the PRF of the radar, the optimum presumming coefficients are the first Np Fourier coefficients of a function which is one of the Doppler bandwidth to be correlated and zero on the remainder of the PRF bandwidth, where Np is the number of transmitted radar pulses over which presumming is provided. Increasing Np reduces the degradation due to presumming, but may leave inadequate storage for correlation. Hence, we optimize the apportionment between the two operations and present the obtainable resolution as a function of total storage and the number of transmitted pulses in the received Doppler history.     

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.     

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。     

Moving target detection via airborne HRR phased array radar

We study moving target detection in the presence of temporally and spatially correlated ground clutter for airborne high range resolution (HRR) phased array radar. We divide the HRR range profiles into large range segments to avoid the range migration problems that occur in the HRR radar data. Since each range segment contains a sequence of HRR range bins, no information is lost due to the division and hence no loss of resolution occurs. We show how to use a vector autoregressive (VAR) filtering technique to suppress the ground clutter. Then a moving target detector based on a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detection strategy is derived. The detection threshold is determined according to the desired false alarm rate, which is made possible via an asymptotic statistical analysis. After the target Doppler frequency and spatial signature vectors are estimated from the VAR-filtered data as if a target were present, a simple detection variable is computed and compared with the detection threshold to render a decision on the presence of a target. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed moving target detection algorithm     

基于压缩感知的MIMO-SAR运动误差补偿与成像

多发多收合成孔径雷达（MIMO-SAR）利用多通道空间并行采样的优势可实现高分辨成像,但不可避免地存在运动误差与海量数据不便于存储与传输的问题。针对该问题提出一种基于压缩感知的MIMO-SAR运动误差补偿与成像方法。首先通过详细分析MIMO-SAR运动误差回波信号模型,在全采样条件下利用两步运动补偿技术实现对回波数据的运动误差补偿处理,其次针对降采样回波数据的运动误差补偿,通过构造变换算子与压缩感知（CS）重构模型的方法实现第1步运动误差补偿、距离脉压以及距离徙动校正处理,然后再进行第2步误差补偿与方位向脉压处理获得成像结果。最后通过仿真实验验证了所提方法能够在大幅压缩回波数据的情况下,实现MIMO-SAR运动误差补偿与成像处理。     

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     

SNR/bandwidth tradeoff in coherent radar sampling

It is shown that if the pulse-repetition frequency of a coherent pulse-Doppler radar is at least twice the Doppler bandwidth, one may, using appropriate downconversion, sample the radar signal at half the Nyquist rate with no loss in range resolution and no folding of Doppler frequencies. This results in a 3-dB loss of signal-to-noise ratio     

Radar beamwidth reduction techniques

It is essential and desirable to get a high resolution echo in a radar image without using a large antenna. On scanning a radar antenna, the target's distribution is smoothed by the antenna beam and a smeared echo appears on the radar display. This paper describes three different types of beam compression radars: subsurface SAR; correlation array radar; and inversion processed radar. The experimental results show that the beamwidth on display was effectively compressed by the signal processing     

Trajectory deviations in airborne SAR: analysis and compensation

This paper concerns the analysis and compensation of trajectory deviations in airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. Analysis of the received data spectrum is carried out with respect to the system geometry in the presence of linear, sinusoidal, and general aircraft displacements. This shows that trajectory deviations generally produce spectral replicas along the azimuth frequency that strongly impair the quality of the focused image. Based on the derived model, we explain the rationale of the motion compensation (MOCO) strategy that must be applied at the SAR processing stage in order to limit the resolution loss. To this end aberration terms are separated into range space invariant and variant components. The former can be accounted for either in a preprocessing step or efficiently at range compression stage. The latter needs a prior accommodation of range migration effect. We design the procedure for efficient inclusion of the MOCO within a high precision scaled FT based SAR processing algorithm. Finally, we present results on simulated data aimed at validating the whole analysis and the proposed procedure     

The Information Content of Synthetic Aperture Radar Images of Terrain

A statistical model is developed that portrays an imaging radar as a noisy communication channel with multiplicative noise, and the model is used to evaluate the average amount of information that can be extracted about a target from its radar image. The average information content is also used to define a measure of radiometric resolution for radar images. It is shown that the information content and the resolution capabilities of an imaging radar reach a limit beyond which an increase in scene dynamic range does not improve the information content or the resolution. This limitation results from the multiplicative nature of the noise introduced in the imaging process.     

Efficient ATR using compression

We examine various model-based automatic target recognition (MBATR) classifiers to investigate the utility of model-catalog compression realized via signal-vector quantization (VQ) and feature extraction. We specifically investigate the impact of various compression rates and common automatic target recognition (ATR) scenario variations such as noise and occlusion through simulations on high-range resolution (HRR) radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. For this data, we show that significant computational savings are possible for modest decreases in classification performance.