An improved motion compensation method for high resolution UAV SAR imaging

The polynomial and sinusoidal motion errors always exist in the unmanned aero vehicle （UAV） SAR due to the small size and low velocity of the platform, causing serious spectrum compressing/stretching and significant spectral replicas of the azimuth signal. The motion errors induce serious blurring of the SAR image and ＂ghost targets＂, and can hardly be precisely estimated by the conventional motion compensation （MOCO） method. In this paper, an improved MOCO method is proposed to estimate and eliminate the motion errors in the high resolution UAV SAR without high precision inertial navigation system （INS） data. The time domain range walk correction （RWC） operation in the coarse phase error estimation process of the proposed MOCO method is the key operation that ensures the estimation accuracy of the whole MOCO method. Finally, the validity of the improved MOCO method is verified by computer simulations and real UAV SAR data processing.     

Sparse SAR imaging based on L1/2 regularization

In this paper,a novel method for synthetic aperture radar(SAR)imaging is proposed.The approach is based on L1/2 regularization to reconstruct the scattering field,which optimizes a quadratic error term of the SAR observation process subject to the interested scene sparsity.Compared to the conventional SAR imaging technique,the new method implements SAR imaging effectively at much lower sampling rate than the Nyquist rate,and produces high-quality images with reduced sidelobes and increased resolution.Also,over the prevalent greedy pursuit and L1 regularization based SAR imaging methods,there are remarkable performance improvements of the new method.On one hand,the new method significantly reduces the number of measurements needed for reconstruction,as supported by a phase transition diagram study.On the other hand,the new method is more robust to the observation noise.These fundamental properties of the new method are supported and demonstrated both by simulations and real SAR data experiments.     

An approach for refocusing of ground fast-moving target and high-order motion parameter estimation using Radon-high-order time-chirp rate transform

Long synthetic aperture time can improve the imaging quality of a ground moving target, whereas a moving target may be severely smeared in the cross-range image due to the range migration and the Doppler frequency migration. In this paper, the effects of the third-order Doppler broadening and Doppler ambiguity of a fast-moving target are considered. To address these issues, a novel motion parameter estimation method named high-order time-chirp rate transform (HTRT) is proposed, and then a new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging method based on Radon-HTRT (RHTRT) for a ground moving target is developed. The major contributions are as follows: 1) The proposed SAR imaging method can eliminate the Doppler ambiguity effect. 2) The proposed method can realize longer time coherent integration than Radon–Fourier transform (RFT) and Radon–fractional Fourier transform (RFRFT) methods. 3) The proposed method is computationally efficient since HTRT can obtain the motion parameters of a moving target via performing the 2-dimensional (2-D) fast Fourier transform (FFT). Both the simulated and real data processing results show that the proposed method can finely image a ground moving target in a high signal-to-clutter and noise ratio (SCNR) environment.     

基于切比雪夫多项式的双基地前视SAR成像算法

双基地前视合成孔径雷达(SAR)的特殊构型使其距离历程具有双根号和大斜视的特点,给回波信号的成像处理带来困难,也对成像算法的精度提出更高要求,为此提出一种基于切比雪夫多项式的双基地前视SAR RD成像算法.首先,建立双基地前视SAR的几何模型与回波信号模型,指出收发分离构型对二维频谱公式推导过程中驻定相位点求解的影响;然后,引入切比雪夫多项式展开代替传统成像算法中的泰勒级数展开,在此基础上进行双基地前视SAR斜距等效模型和二维频谱模型的推导;最后,通过分析确定双基地前视SAR RD成像算法的相位匹配函数,给出成像算法的完整流程.仿真结果表明,所提出算法可极大减小双基地前视SAR的斜距等效误差与频谱展开误差,有效提高成像算法的聚焦深度和成像质量.     

基于微动调制的FMCW SAR无源压制干扰方法

调频连续波(FMCW)合成孔径雷达(SAR)体积小、重量轻、成本低、功耗低等优点,在无人机等小型飞行平台中具有较大的应用潜力,对FMCW SAR的干扰也将成为目前干扰技术研究的重点;在构建旋转微动目标回波模型的基础上,分析了FMCW SAR旋转微动目标的干扰特性,并进一步提出了一种基于微动调制的FMCW SAR无源压制干扰方法;该方法利用旋转角反射器在距离向和方位向上形成的二维干扰条带,能够实现对被掩护目标的有效保护;文章详细分析了对FMCW SAR实施干扰时旋转角反射器的参数选择方法,并利用仿真实验验证了理论分析与所提无源压制干扰方法的有效性。     

A novel Scan SAR imaging method for maritime surveillance via Lp regularization

In this article, a novel Scan mode synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging method for maritime surveillance is presented. Conventional Scan SAR is generally operated with severe azimuth resolution loss in order to cover a large area. The proposed imaging method changes the way Scan SAR illuminates sub-scenes and presents a new radar illuminating strategy based on ships’ spatial distribution in each sub-scene. To gain ships’ spatial distribution, a scene sensing algorithm based on radar range profiles together with a peak-seeking and clustering algorithm is introduced. After that, a Markov transfer-probability matrix is generated to make sure that radar illuminates each sub-scene randomly under the probability we calculated before. Finally, an imaging algorithm within the L_p (0 < p ≤ 1) regularization framework is utilized to reconstruct each sub-scene; the regularization problem is solved by an improved iterative thresholding algorithm. The whole wide swath image is joined by putting all the sub-scenes together. Experimental results support that the proposed imaging method can perform high-resolution wide swath SAR imaging effectively and efficiently without reducing the image resolution.     

Clutter suppression and ground moving target imaging approach for hypersonic vehicle borne multichannel radar based on two-step focusing method

In this paper, a novel clutter suppression and ground moving target imaging approach is proposed for hypersonic vehicle (HSV) borne multichannel (MC) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. Compared with the traditional MC SAR ground moving target indication (GMTI) methods, the proposed algorithm can suppress clutter and decrease the moving target energy loss based on the improved MC clutter suppression method in the chirp Fourier transform (CFT) domain. Moreover, the moving target can be accurately focused by compensating the range curvature and the third order phase item. In addition, the motion parameters can be estimated precisely and the moving target can be focused accurately. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by the simulation examples.     

Three-dimensional space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging with multiple pass processing

Three-dimensional (3D) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging via multiple-pass processing is an extension of interferometric SAR imaging. It exploits more than two flight passes to achieve a desired resolution in elevation. In this paper, a novel approach is developed to reconstruct a 3D space-borne SAR image with multiple-pass processing. It involves image registration, phase correction and elevational imaging. An image model matching is developed for multiple image registration, an eigenvector method is proposed for the phase correction and the elevational imaging is conducted using a Fourier transform or a super-resolution method for enhancement of elevational resolution. 3D SAR images are obtained by processing simulated data and real data from the first European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-1) with the proposed approaches.     

Effects of residual motion compensation errors on the performance of airborne along-track interferometric SAR

Two approximations, center-beam approximation and reference digital elevation model (DEM) approximation, are used in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) motion compensation procedures. They usually introduce residual motion compensation errors for airborne single-antenna SAR imaging and SAR interferometry. In this paper, we investigate the effects of residual uncompensated motion errors, which are caused by the above two approximations, on the performance of airborne along-track interferometric SAR (ATI-SAR). The residual uncompensated errors caused by center-beam approximation in the absence and in the presence of elevation errors are derived, respectively. Airborne simulation parameters are used to verify the correctness of the analysis and to show the impacts of residual uncompensated errors on the interferometric phase errors for ATI-SAR. It is shown that the interferometric phase errors caused by the center-beam approximation with an accurate DEM could be neglected, while the interferometric phase errors caused by the center-beam approximation with an inaccurate DEM cannot be neglected when the elevation errors exceed a threshold. This research provides theoretical bases for the error source analysis and signal processing of airborne ATI-SAR.     

Clutter suppression and moving target imaging approach for multichannel hypersonic vehicle borne radar

In this paper, a clutter suppression and ground moving target imaging algorithm is proposed for the hypersonic vehicle (HSV) borne multichannel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. Different from the traditional horizontal flight radar platforms, the HSV-borne radar platform is with a complex movement, and typically has a skipping trajectory. Therefore, the clutter suppression and imaging operations are difficult to implement. To deal with this problem, a descending stage signal model of multichannel SAR system is presented and studied for the HSV-borne radar. Then, the clutter and moving target echoes are transformed into the azimuth frequency domain. Considering that there exists a phase difference between clutter and the moving target, the clutter suppression approach is implemented with a series of spatial domain filters. After that, the moving target is focused based on the keystone transform. In addition, the performance analyses and related issues of the proposed method are presented. Finally, some simulation experiments are taken to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

基于Vega软件的SAR实时仿真技术

进行合成孔径雷达（SAR）成像仿真是研究成像雷达的一个重要手段。本文在分析SAR成像仿真机理的基础上,提出了一种利用视景仿真软件Vega进行SAR实时成像的仿真方法。利用软件平台VC＋＋、Multigen Creator和Vega设计机载合成孔径雷达（SAR）成像仿真系统,分析了影响机载SAR成像质量的各种参数,论述了利用Vega的雷达仿真模块——RadarWorks开发机载SAR成像仿真软件的流程以及整体系统的实现等关键技术。     

SAR影像配准中控制点粗差剔除方法研究

复数影像配准是雷达干涉测量中的关键步骤之一,而配准中选取的控制点往往存在粗差,影响配准精度。分析了SAR影像配准时控制点粗差产生的原因,提出了方差因子检验和Baarda数据探测法剔除控制点粗差的方法,建立了基于可靠控制点计算影像纠正的几何变换模型。利用ENVISAT卫星ASAR图像对所提方法进行了验证,结果表明,影像配准的精度达到了0.1像素,粗差剔除后SAR影像配准精度有明显提高。     

一种适用于调频步进信号SAR的2维子孔径处理算法

为了将机载SAR超高分辨率(0.1 m)条件下的超大带宽信号的实现和成像信号的处理进行有效结合,首先深入分析了基于PFA的2维重叠子孔径处理算法(PFOSA),并对算法中采用的不合理近似进行了改进;然后将PFOSA应用于调频步进信号的SAR成像处理,在此基础上,提出了一种基于调频步进信号的2维子孔径处理算法.该算法不仅能够将调频步进信号处理与距离子孔径处理相结合,使之无需常规的脉冲合成过程,而且还能够利用子孔径处理获得的目标粗分辨位置信息来有效补偿脉冲簇内由载机运动引起的空变相位误差,从而克服了常规脉冲合成方法无法补偿空变相位误差的缺点.仿真数据处理结果表明,该算法是有效的.     

基于CR下界无偏能量估计的高炉料面点云锐化成像

高炉雷达获取的料面信息是钢铁冶炼中布料控制的重要参数.但高炉内部环境复杂,料面具有非均匀流态化特性,传统信号处理方法难以准确稳定提取料面有效信息,会导致高炉布料误操作.本文借鉴遥感SAR雷达成像原理,设计了工业SAR扫描式雷达,多倍增加料面采样点密度,提出一种新的料面点云锐化成像算法.分析了高炉雷达料面回波信号干扰信号...     

Radar imaging of Kelvin arms of ship wakes

The wave pattern generated by a moving ship is formed by two dominant features: the turbulent wake and a 'V'-shaped pattern trailing the ship, consisting of the two Kelvin arms. In this paper we investigate the radar imaging mechanism of Kelvin arms, which are formed by the cusp waves. A composite surface model for the radar backscattering at the ocean surface is used. The radar signatures of Kelvin arms can be attributed to tilt and hydrodynamic modulation of Bragg waves by the cusp waves. The proposed model allows the computation of the normalized radar backscattering cross-section (NRCS) as a function of radar frequency, polarization, incidence angle, wind speed and direction, and wavelength, direction, and slope of the cusp waves. By using this imaging model, radar signatures of cusp waves are calculated for several spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs): (1) the SEASAT L-band HH-polarized SAR, (2) the ERS-1/-2 VV-polarized SAR, (3) the RADARSAT C-band HH-polarized SAR, and (4) the X-, C- and L-band multipolarization SARs of the Space Radar Laboratory flown on the space shuttle during the SIRC/X-SAR mission in 1994. The results of the simulations are compared with SEASAT and SIR-C/X-SAR imagery of ship wake patterns. It is shown that the dependence of the observed radar signatures of Kelvin arms on radar look direction is consistent with the proposed imaging theory and that the measured relative mean NRCS values induced by Kelvin arms can be fairly well reproduced by the proposed model. The simulations indicate that ship wake signatures should be more clearly visible on SEASAT L-band SAR than on ERS-1/-2 or RADARSAT C-band SAR images. The radar signatures of Kelvin arms are strongest at low wind speeds and are not very sensitive to wind direction.     

一种适于弹载平台的PFA波前弯曲补偿方法

极坐标格式算法（Polar format algorithm,PFA）将球面波前近似为平面波前,由此引入的误差会造成SAR图像出现严重的边缘模糊和几何失真。之前的波前弯曲补偿方法都是基于雷达平飞假设,然而由于弹载SAR平台大俯冲、大斜视的机动特点,使得现有的滤波器设计方法无法直接应用于雷达平台俯冲等机动条件,波前弯曲误差补偿方法的应用范围因此受到很大限制。本文根据导弹飞行末端大斜视、大俯冲的机动特点,推导了雷达俯冲机动条件下波前弯曲空间频域相位误差的精确表达式,通过空变后滤波等处理实现了弹载SAR极坐标格式算法波前弯曲误差的精确补偿,有效地解决了弹载SAR俯冲机动条件下PFA图像的模糊和几何失真问题。该方法扩展了图像后处理补偿极坐标格式算法波前弯曲误差的应用范围,进一步完善了极坐标格式算法的波前弯曲补偿理论。最后通过仿真验证了公式和方法的正确性。     

Performance improvement in multi-ship imaging for ScanSAR based on sparse representation

There is always a compromise between unambiguous wide-swath imaging and high cross-range resolution owing to the constraint of minimum antenna area for conventional single-channel spaceborne synthetic aperture radar(SAR)imaging.To overcome the inherent systemic limitation,multi-channel SAR imaging has been developed.Nevertheless,this still suffers from various problems such as high system complexity.To simplify the system structure,a novel algorithm for high resolution multi-ship ScanSAR imaging based on sparse representation is proposed in this paper,where the SAR imaging model is established via maximum a posterior estimation by utilizing the sparsity prior of multi-ship targets.In the scheme,a wide swath is generated in the ScanSAR mode by continuously switching the radar footprint between subswaths.Meanwhile,high crossrange resolution is realized from sparse subapertures by exploiting the sparsity feature of multi-ship imaging.In particular,the SAR observation operator is constructed approximately as the inverse of conventional SAR imaging and then high resolution SAR imaging including range cell migration compensation is achieved by solving the optimization.Compared with multi-channel SAR imaging,the system complexity is effectively reduced in the ScanSAR mode.In addition,enhancement of the cross-range resolution is realized by incorporating the sparsity prior with sparse subapertures.As a result,the amount of data is effectively reduced.Experiments based on measured data have been carried out to confirm the effectiveness and validity of the proposed algorithm.     

实时SAR成像系统矩阵转置方法研究与实现

合成孔径雷达（SAR）是一种高分辨率成像雷达,而矩阵转置是实时SAR成像信号处理中一个很重要的操作,矩阵转置的效率高低将直接决定整个SAR成像信号处理系统的性能。对于矩阵转置,可采用行进列出或列进行出、两页式或三页式转置等方法进行处理,但这些方法处理时间较长,转置效率较低。在现有矩阵转置方法的基础上,提出了一种新的矩阵转置方法。在实际硬件平台上利用提出的矩阵转置方法进行了实时SAR成像处理,所得结果的矩阵转置效率为78%,整个SAR成像处理时间为10秒。测试结果表明,该方法对解决矩阵转置问题是行之有效的。     

Range ambiguity suppression in a synthetic aperture radar using pulse phase coding and two-pulse cancellation

ABSTRACT

In the presence of range ambiguity, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems suffer from image aliasing, which dramatically degrades the quality of SAR images. In this article, an easy-to-implement technique for range ambiguity suppression is investigated, which is based on phase coding in the transmit pulse dimension, referred to as pulse phase coding (PPC). By properly designing the PPC series, it is possible to discriminate the range ambiguous echoes from different range areas in the Doppler frequency domain. To further suppress the range ambiguous echo, a two-pulse cancellation (TPC)-based SAR imaging method is proposed, which improves the quality of SAR images in the presence of range ambiguity. The proposed two-pulse cancellation is performed followed by the azimuth compression. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

ISAR imaging of complex motion targets based on Radon transform cubic chirplet decomposition

For targets with complex motion, the echo of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) is a time-varying frequency signal in azimuth. Hence, the traditional range-Doppler (R-D) algorithm based on a constant frequency is invalid. In this letter, a novel ISAR imaging method for targets with complex motion is presented. The echo in azimuth is characterized as an amplitude-modulated (AM)-cubic phase signal, which is closer to the real ISAR scene, and Radon transform cubic chirplet decomposition (RTCCD) algorithm is proposed to process the signal. By introducing Radon transform and improved cubic chirplet function (CPF), the proposed algorithm estimates the chirp rate and the cubic chirp rate simultaneously to avoid error accumulation. Therefore, the parameter estimation precision is improved, and a high quality ISAR image can be obtained. Simulations and real data experiment validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.