Exact synthetic aperture radar (SAR) inversion for a linear aperture may be obtained using fast transform techniques. Alternatively, back-projection integration in time domain can also be used. This technique has the benefit of handling a general aperture geometry. In the past, however, back-projection has seldom been used due to heavy computational burden. We show that the back-projection integral can be recursively partitioned and an effective algorithm constructed based on aperture factorization. By representing images in local polar coordinates it is shown that the number of operations is drastically reduced and can be made to approach that of fast transform algorithms. The algorithm is applied to data from the airborne ultra-wideband CARABAS SAR and shown to give a reduction in processing time of two to three orders of magnitude.

Synthetic-aperture radar processing using fast factorized back-projection

Thank you very much for downloading spotlight synthetic aperture radar signal processing algorithms. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their favorite books like this spotlight synthetic aperture radar signal processing algorithms, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some harmful virus inside their laptop.

Spotlight Synthetic Aperture Radar Signal Processing Algorithms

Radar waveform diversity has received considerable attention in recent years due to increasing spectral congestion and the burgeoning capabilities of digital waveform generation. The promise of waveform diversity is far greater utilization of available degrees of freedom to enhance sensing performance and to even facilitate new operating modes. This tutorial provides an overview of this very broad topic, from the basic principles upon which it is founded to the myriad different areas being explored in research for practical sensing applications.

Overview of radar waveform diversity

We introduce a new algorithm for time-domain backprojection of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The algorithm reproduces images generated by standard backprojection pixel-for-pixel to any required tolerance, but it runs roughly /spl radic/N times faster for an N by N pixel image. Fast backprojection retains the advantages of standard backprojection: perfect motion compensation for any flight path, low artifact levels, unlimited scene size, perfect focus for arbitrarily wide bandwidths and integration angles, and strictly local processing (i.e., pulses can be processed as they are collected without along-track buffering or corner turns). The new algorithm also makes it possible to store the image in progress on disk (rather than in memory) with only a mild penalty in processing speed.

Fast backprojection algorithm for synthetic aperture radar

During the last decade, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) became an indispensable source of information in Earth observation. This has been possible mainly due to the current trend toward higher spatial resolution and novel imaging modes. A major driver for this development has been and still is the airborne SAR technology, which is usually ahead of the capabilities of spaceborne sensors by several years. Today's airborne sensors are capable of delivering high-quality SAR data with decimeter resolution and allow the development of novel approaches in data analysis and information extraction from SAR. In this paper, a review about the abilities and needs of today's very high-resolution airborne SAR sensors is given, based on and summarizing the longtime experience of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with airborne SAR technology and its applications. A description of the specific requirements of high-resolution airborne data processing is presented, followed by an extensive overview of emerging applications of high-resolution SAR. In many cases, information extraction from high-resolution airborne SAR imagery has achieved a mature level, turning SAR technology more and more into an operational tool. Such abilities, which are today mostly limited to airborne SAR, might become typical in the next generation of spaceborne SAR missions.

/pdf/very-high-resolution-airborne-synthetic-aperture-radar-1o1o8r0ksp.pdf

Very-High-Resolution Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging: Signal Processing and Applications

There is an increasing interest in imaging radar systems operating at low frequencies. Examples of military and civilian applications are detection of stealth-designed man- made objects, targets hidden under foliage, biomass estimation, and penetration into glaciers or ground. The developed CARABAS technology is a contribution to this field of low frequency SAR imagery. The used wavelengths offer a potential of penetration below the upper scattering layer in combination with high spatial resolution. The first prototype of the system (CARABAS I) has been tested in environments ranging from rain forests to deserts, collecting a considerably amount of data often in parallel with other SAR sensors. The work on data analysis proceeds and results obtained so far seem promising, especially for application in forested regions. The experiences gained are used in the development of a new upgraded system (CARABAS II), which is near completion and initial airborne radar tests for system verifications followed by some major field campaign are scheduled to take place during 1996. This paper will summarize the CARABAS I system characteristics and system performance evaluation. The major imperfections discovered in the radar functioning will be identified, and we explain some of the modification made in the system design for CARABAS II. A new algorithm for future real-time CARABAS data processing has been derived, with a structure well-suited for a multi-processor environment. Motion compensation and radio frequency interference mitigation are both included in this scheme. Some comments on low frequency SAR operation at UHF-based versus VHF-band will be given.

Development of VHF CARABAS II SAR

Autonomous driving relies on a variety of sensors, especially radars, which have unique robustness under heavy rain/fog/snow and poor light conditions. With the rapid increase of the amount of radars used on modern vehicles, where most radars operate in the same frequency band, the risk of radar interference becomes a compelling issue. This article analyzes automotive radar interference and proposes several new approaches that combine industrial and academic expertise toward the goal of achieving interference-free autonomous driving (AD).

/pdf/radar-interference-mitigation-for-automated-driving-1g69aykgfh.pdf

Radar Interference Mitigation for Automated Driving: Exploring Proactive Strategies

Based on analysis of a point target imaged by different synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, the commonly used impulse response function in SAR Imaging (IRF-SAR)-a two-dimensional (2-D) sinc function-is shown to be inappropriate for ultrawideband-ultrawidebeam (UWB) SAR systems utilizing a large fractional signal bandwidth and a wide antenna beamwidth. As a consequence, the applications of the 2-D sinc function such as image quality measurements and spatial resolution estimations are limited to narrowband-narrowbeam (NB) SAR systems exploiting a small fractional signal bandwidth and a narrow antenna beamwidth. In this paper, a more general IRF-SAR, which aims at UWB SAR systems, is derived with an assumption of flat two-dimensional (2-D) Fourier transform (FT) of a SAR image and called IRF-USAR. However, the derived IRF-USAR is also valid for NB SAR systems.

/pdf/an-impulse-response-function-for-evaluation-of-uwb-sar-11ez3noxrw.pdf

An Impulse Response Function for Evaluation of UWB SAR Imaging

This paper describes a factorized geometrical autofocus (FGA) algorithm, specifically suitable for ultrawideband synthetic aperture radar. The strategy is integrated in a fast factorized back-projection chain and relies on varying track parameters step by step to obtain a sharp image; focus measures are provided by an object function (intensity correlation). The FGA algorithm has been successfully applied on synthetic and real (Coherent All RAdio BAnd System II) data sets, i.e., with false track parameters introduced prior to processing, to set up constrained problems involving one geometrical quantity. Resolution (3 dB in azimuth and slant range) and peak-to-sidelobe ratio measurements in FGA images are comparable with reference results (within a few percent and tenths of a decibel), demonstrating the capacity to compensate for residual space variant range cell migration. The FGA algorithm is finally also benchmarked (visually) against the phase gradient algorithm to emphasize the advantage of a geometrical autofocus approach.

https://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/172914/172914.pdf

Factorized Geometrical Autofocus for Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing

The 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 it is proposed to use the push boom type of antenna mounting previously adopted with advantage for the CARABAS II UWB VHF SAR. Presently the push booms will hold a set of UWB UHF antenna elements. The 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 only depends on one new parameter viz. 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 the levels of increasing the resolution. The paper also provides a brief presentation of the Swedish FOA efforts to produce an experimental demonstrator of this multi-function radar system.

Hans Hellsten

Papers

Development of VHF CARABAS II SAR

Radar Interference Mitigation for Automated Driving: Exploring Proactive Strategies

An Impulse Response Function for Evaluation of UWB SAR Imaging

Factorized Geometrical Autofocus for Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing

Airborne array aperture UWB UHF radar-motivation and system considerations