Advanced high-order nonlinear chirp scaling algorithm for high-resolution wide-swath spaceborne SAR

Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a well-established and powerful imaging technology that can provide high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface on a global scale. For future SAR systems, one of the key capabilities is to acquire images with both high-resolution and wide-swath. In parallel to the evolution of SAR sensors, more precise range models, and effective imaging algorithms are required. Due to the significant azimuth-variance of the echo signal in High-Resolution Wide-Swath (HRWS) SAR, two challenges have been faced in conventional imaging algorithms. The first challenge is constructing a precise range model of the whole scene and the second one is to develop an effective imaging algorithm since existing ones fail to process high-resolution and wide azimuth swath SAR data effectively. In this paper, an Advanced High-order Nonlinear Chirp Scaling (A-HNLCS) algorithm for HRWS SAR is proposed. First, a novel Second-Order Equivalent Squint Range Model (SOESRM) is developed to describe the range history of the whole scene, by introducing a quadratic curve to fit the deviation of the azimuth FM rate. Second, a corresponding algorithm is derived, where the azimuth-variance of the echo signal is solved by azimuth equalizing processing and accurate focusing is achieved through a high-order nonlinear chirp scaling algorithm. As a result, the whole scene can be accurately focused through one single imaging processing. Simulations are provided to validate the proposed range model and imaging algorithm.     

An extended chirp scaling algorithm for spaceborne sliding spotlight synthetic aperture radar imaging

A system impulse response with low sidelobes is critical in synthetic aperture radar（SAR） images because sidelobes contribute to noise and interfere with nearby scatterers. However,the conventional tricks of sidelobe suppression are unable to be exactly applied to the case of spaceborne sliding spotlight SAR due to great azimuth shifts in both time and frequency domains. In this paper, an extended chirp scaling algorithm is presented for spaceborne sliding spotlight SAR data imaging. The proposed algorithm firstly uses the spectral analysis（SPECAN） technique to avoid the azimuth spectrum folding effect and then employs the chirp scaling（CS） algorithm to achieve data focusing, i.e., the so-called two-step approach. To suppress the sidelobe level, an efficient strategy for the azimuth spectral weighting which only involves matrix multiplications and short fast Fourier transformations（FFTs） is proposed, which is a post-process executed on the focused SAR image and particularly simple to be implemented. The SAR image processed by the proposed extended CS algorithm is very precise and perfectly phase-preserving. In the end, computer simulation results verify the analysis and confirm the validity of the proposed algorithm.     

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。     

A Velocity Estimation Algorithm of Moving Targets using Single Antenna SAR

A new algorithm is proposed for velocity estimation of moving targets in single antenna synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Based on the fact that different velocity vectors cause different geometrical figures of the two-dimensional (2-D) signature in the range-Doppler (RD) domain, this algorithm estimates the azimuth and range velocities by a 2-D search such that the range cell migration correction (RCMC) and the second range compression (SRC) are correctly performed. It is shown that, using the proposed algorithm, the Doppler ambiguity problem can be avoided and satisfactory accurate velocity estimation can be obtained in high signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) scenarios.     

Adaptive pulse compression via MMSE estimation

Radar pulse compression involves the extraction of an estimate of the range profile illuminated by a radar in the presence of noise. A problem inherent to pulse compression is the masking of small targets by large nearby targets due to the range sidelobes that result from standard matched filtering. This paper presents a new approach based upon a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) formulation in which the pulse compression filter for each individual range cell is adaptively estimated from the received signal in order to mitigate the masking interference resulting from matched filtering in the vicinity of large targets. The proposed method is compared with the standard matched filter and least-squares (LS) estimation and is shown to be superior over a variety of stressing scenarios.     

基于Chebyshev正交分解的曲线运动轨迹SAR的Chirp Scaling算法

针对具有三维速度和加速度的曲线运动轨迹合成孔径雷达（SAR），传统的斜距模型无法精确描述其运动特性，曲线历程增加了距离走动现象和方位向时间的高次项，使二维耦合现象更为复杂。本文提出了一种考虑载体平台三维速度和加速度的Chirp Scaling算法以解决曲线运动轨迹SAR成像问题。首先根据运动方程建立斜距表达式，然后对其进行Chebyshev近似，并构造其等效双曲方程形式的斜距模型，推导了具有空变性的距离徙动函数，Chirp Scaling因子以及适用于曲线轨迹的Chirp Scaling成像算法。仿真结果证实了此扩展的等效斜距模型和Chirp Scaling算法在大合成孔径时间下的有效性，并给出了三维加速度的边界值。     

机载斜视SAR改进ETF快速成像算法

 根据机载斜视SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar)成像模式,详细推导了任意场景位置的准确传递函数,在此基础上,提出了一种改进的ETF（Exact Transfer Function）成像算法。并推导得到了算法使用中分块处理应该满足的边界条件。由于推导过程基于准确运动模型和参考距离模型,方位相位的计算不做近似截取而是做准确计算,使得该算法具有更高的相位精度。同时该算法可运行于现有的成像系统,兼容性好;对数据分块并行运算,解决了斜视情况下大距离徙动带来的问题并且提高了运算速度。最后,点目标仿真成像结果证明了算法的有效性。     

聚束SAR扩展Chirp Scaling成像算法.

在合成孔径雷达（SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar)的成像算法中，Chrip Scaling成像算法具有计算效率高的优点，因此得到了较为广泛的应用。详细研究了子孔径扩展Chirp Scaling算法在高分辩率聚束模式SAR中的应用，包括子孔径划分和方位向处理问题，针对A.Moreira等1996年所提算法在处理聚束SAR数据时所产生的问题，给出了经过改进的适合于大斜视角处理的整个计算过程的完整表达式。在给出点目标仿真的同时，利用E-SAR实际数据对述方法进行了验证，结果对具体的兼容条带和聚束两种工作模式的SAR处理机设计具有一定的参考价值。     

Envelope Threshold Detection in a Class of Non-Gaussian Interference

This paper considers the detection of a sinusoidal or chirp signal imbedded in wideband FM interference (as might be generated by some types of active jamming), such that after pulse compression or other integration, the interference can be approximated by a sum of sinusoids of independent phase. The detection probability in such non-Gaussian noise is compared to that for Gaussian noise, with the Gaussian result approached, as required, in the limit that the number of sinusoids in the sum increases without bound. For detection using a comparison of the envelope with a threshold which yields a given false-alarm probability (CFAR detection), the detection probability is improved over the case of Gaussian noise, so that the usual approach basing the design on Gaussian noise would be conservative. Using a threshold determined from the envelope mean, the FM interference yields a lower false-alarm probability than for Gaussian noise, with detection probability only slightly degraded.     

合成孔径雷达(SAR)正侧视数据转换成前斜视的速度合成法

通过一般的商用合作渠道较易获得正侧视 SAR的原始数据。相对而言 ,其他照射模式 ,如前斜视、聚束模式等的实飞数据却很难得到。提出一种新的思路 ,采用一种速度合成法 ,完成正侧视的原始数据到前斜视模式的近似转换。仿真实验证明了这种方法的可行性     

3-D E-CSAR imaging of a T-72 tank and synthesis of its SAR reconstructions

The results of three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of a T-72 tank using its angular azimuthal (turntable) and linear elevation synthetic aperture data at X band are presented. This is achieved using an accurate and computationally efficient wavefront (Fourier-based) reconstruction algorithm for elevation and circular (E-CSAR) data. The E-CSAR 3-D images are then used to synthesize 2-D spotlight and stripmap slant plane synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the target at a desired range and squint angle. For this purpose, a procedure is introduced that incorporates the spatially varying azimuthal and elevation Doppler signatures of individual reflectors on the target as well as the mean range, azimuth, and elevation of the flight path. Results using the E-CSAR images of the T-72 tank are provided.     

准实时性前斜视INS/SAR组合导航滤波算法研究

为消除常规利用正侧视SAR图像辅助导航信息对惯性误差进行修正时的滞后影响,结合前斜视SAR成像工作特性,本文分析提出了新的准实时性组合导航滤波方案和算法,以解决SAR/INS组合导航系统中的量测滞后影响;本文分析了前斜视SAR成像辅助导航系统工作特点,分析了SAR量测输出模型;建立了准实时性前斜视INS/SAR组合导航滤波算法模型,并通过仿真分析了组合导航系统性能。仿真结果表明：采用所提出的惯性/SAR组合方案和算法,可以有效克服成规正侧视SAR辅助匹配输出滞后的影响,有效满足组合系统性能要求。     

Multiple model particle flter track-before-detect for range ambiguous radar

The middle pulse repetition frequency（MPRF）and high pulse repetition frequency（HPRF）modes are widely adopted in airborne pulse Doppler（PD）radar systems,which results in the problem that the range measurement of targets is ambiguous.The existing data processing based range ambiguity resolving methods work well on the condition that the signal-to-noise ratio（SNR）is high enough.In this paper,a multiple model particle flter（MMPF）based track-beforedetect（TBD）method is proposed to address the problem of target detection and tracking with range ambiguous radar in low-SNR environment.By introducing a discrete variable that denotes whether a target is present or not and the discrete pulse interval number（PIN）as components of the target state vector,and modeling the incremental variable of the PIN as a three-state Markov chain,the proposed algorithm converts the problem of range ambiguity resolving into a hybrid state fltering problem.At last,the hybrid fltering problem is implemented by a MMPF-based TBD method in the Bayesian framework.Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed Bayesian approach can estimate target state as well as the PIN simultaneously,and succeeds in detecting and tracking weak targets with the range ambiguous radar.Simulation results also show that the performance of the proposed method is superior to that of the multiple hypothesis（MH）method in low-SNR environment.     

Modification of the SAR step transform algorithm

When the basic step transform algorithm is used to compress synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) signals in azimuth, the linear FM rate and sampling rate must satisfy certain tight constraints. In practice, these constraints cannot be satisfied and errors are introduced into the compressed SAR image. A modification is described of the basic step transform which incorporates interpolation and resampling into the algorithm. These changes allow the removal of the constraints and make the step transform more useful for the compression of real data. An autofocusing capability is also included, without introducing much additional complexity     

保持弱细结构特征的SAR图象模拟退火重构方法

模拟退火 ( SA)算法最先由 White R G.用于合成孔径雷达 ( SAR)图象的降斑处理。该算法在重构均匀区域和强结构区效果有很大提高 ,但也有缺点 ,尤其是过分模糊弱细结构。本文提出了一种改进的方法 ,在 SA算法中融入了边沿检测和增强步骤 ,使弱细结构得以增强并在退火过程中保持。为配合此方法 ,采用平稳下降的指数温度规划取代对数形式。通过仔细调整算法过程 ,可使新方法保留 SAR图象中的很多细小结构 ,而不使其他均匀的和强结构场景性能恶化 ,同时也没有引入其他缺陷。改进的算法更加适于中、低分辨率的 SAR图象降斑处理     

A Generalized Approach to Multiresolution Complex SAR Signal Processing

Multiresolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation has been proven to be beneficial in a variety of applications such as improved imaging and target detection as well as speckle reduction. SAR signal processing traditionally carried out in the Fourier domain has inherent limitations in the context of image formation at hierarchical scales. We present a generalized approach to the formation of multiresolution SAR images using biorthogonal shift-invariant discrete wavelet transform (SIDWT) in both range and azimuth directions. Particularly in azimuth, the inherent subband decomposition property of wavelet packet transform is introduced to produce multiscale complex matched filtering without involving any approximations. This generalized approach also includes the formulation of multilook processing within the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) paradigm. The efficiency of the algorithm in parallel form of execution to generate hierarchical scale SAR images is shown. Analytical results and sample imagery of diffuse backscatter are presented to validate the method.     

基于SAR图像匹配结果可信度评价的INS/SAR自适应Kalman滤波算法

在惯性导航系统（INS）/合成孔径雷达（SAR）组合导航系统中,SAR图像易受斑点噪声的影响,图像匹配的精度对整个导航系统精度的影响十分明显,能够准确地分析SAR图像匹配过程中的误差特性,利用有效的图像匹配信息辅助INS进行组合定位尤为重要。针对上述问题,在加权Hausdorff距离匹配算法的基础上,对影响SAR图像匹配精度的因素进行了分析,提出了一种基于模糊推理的匹配结果可信度评价准则,经过可信度筛选,将有效的匹配信息与INS进行组合;对合理范围内的匹配误差变化引起量测噪声统计特性发生变化,进而导致Kalman滤波精度下降的问题,研究采用改进的Sage-Husa自适应滤波算法对量测噪声方差阵进行动态调整,使其更加接近系统的当前状态。搭建仿真验证平台对所提算法进行了验证,结果表明,该算法能够在合理的匹配误差范围内,有效地筛选出可信的图像匹配结果,相比常规Kalman滤波算法,显著地提升了INS/SAR组合导航系统水平方向的定位精度。     

Synthetic aperture radar image formation from compressed data usinga new computation technique

A convolution technique is proposed that allows direct reconstruction of the processed synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) image from the digitally-sampled, block-encoded raw data. This computational compression technique reduces the number of arithmetic operations from that required by fast Fourier transform (FFT) convolution for SAR processing. SAR phase histories are block encoded and directly processed into an image where only arithmetic additions are required for the processing. For SAR data previously block encoded, the processing time is reduced by a factor of 100 or more. A speed-up of three times over SAR processing by FET convolution has been demonstrated when both computation of the block encoding and subsequent direct processing are included in the time. SAR image quality measurements for a method of block encoding called vector quantization at compression ration ranging from 5:1 to 50:1 show image degradation proportional to the compression ratio. For a 5:1 compression radio, image quality measurements show minimal degradation     

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。