RESEARCH ON THE BISTATIC FORWARD-LOOKING SAR IMAGING

The bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems with separate transmitter and receiver antennas provide a new potential to imaging in the forward-looking geometry. Analysis of the Doppler property in this paper indicates the feasibility of Bistatic Forward-Looking (BFL) SAR imaging. Considering the different Doppler property determined by the two platforms in BFL SAR, a new 2-D point target spectrum is derived in our study. Based on the spectrum, an imaging method is chosen for the configuration, and the point target simulation validates the analysis.

Property analysis of bistatic forward-looking SAR with arbitrary geometry

Bistatic forward-looking synthetic aperture radar（SAR） has many advantages and applications owing to its twodimensional imaging capability.There could be various imaging configurations because of the geometric flexibility of bistatic platforms,resulting in kinds of models built independently among which there could be some similar even the same motion features.Comprehensive research on such systems in a more comprehensive and general point of view is required to address their difference and consistency.Property analysis of bistatic forwardlooking SAR with arbitrary geometry is achieved including stripmap and spotlight modes on airborne platform,missile-borne platform,and hybrid platform of both.Emphasis is placed on azimuth space variance of some key parameters significantly affecting the subsequent imaging processing,based on which the frequency spectra are further described and compared considering respective features of different platforms for frequency imaging algorithm developing.Simulation results confirm the effectiveness and correctness of our analysis.

Detection of UAV Target Based on Continuous Radon Transform and Matched Filtering Process for Passive Bistatic Radar

Long-time integration technique is an effective way of improving target detection performance for unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)in the passive bistatic radar(PBR),while range migration(RM)and Doppler frequency migration(DFM)may have a major effect due to the target maneuverability.This paper proposed an innovative long-time coherent integration approach,regarded as Continuous Radon-matched filtering process(CRMFP),for low-observable UAV target in passive bistatic radar.It not only mitigates the RM by collaborative research in range and velocity dimensions but also compensates the DFM and ensures the coherent integration through the matched filtering process(MFP).Numerical and real-life data following detailed analysis verify that the proposed method can overcome the Doppler mismatch influence and acquire comparable detection performance.

Underwater Gas Leakage Flow Detection and Classification Based on Multibeam Forward-Looking Sonar

The risk of gas leakage due to geological flaws in offshore carbon capture, utilization, and storage, as well as leakage from underwater oil or gas pipelines, highlights the need for underwater gas leakage monitoring technology. Remotely operated vehicles(ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs) are equipped with high-resolution imaging sonar systems that have broad application potential in underwater gas and target detection tasks. However, some bubble clusters are relatively weak scatterers, so detecting and distinguishing them against the seabed reverberation in forward-looking sonar images are challenging. This study uses the dual-tree complex wavelet transform to extract the image features of multibeam forward-looking sonar. Underwater gas leakages with different flows are classified by combining deep learning theory. A pool experiment is designed to simulate gas leakage, where sonar images are obtained for further processing. Results demonstrate that this method can detect and classify underwater gas leakage streams with high classification accuracy. This performance indicates that the method can detect gas leakage from multibeam forward-looking sonar images and has the potential to predict gas leakage flow.

Direction finding of bistatic MIMO radar in strong impulse noise

For bistatic multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO)radar,this paper presents a robust and direction finding method in strong impulse noise environment.By means of a new lower order covariance,the method is effective in suppressing impulse noise and achieving superior direction finding performance using the maximum likelihood(ML)estimation method.A quantum equilibrium optimizer algorithm(QEOA)is devised to resolve the corresponding objective function for efficient and accurate direc-tion finding.The results of simulation reveal the capability of the presented method in success rate and root mean square error over existing direction-finding methods in different application situations,e.g.,locating coherent signal sources with very few snapshots in strong impulse noise.Other than that,the Cramér-Rao bound(CRB)under impulse noise environment has been drawn to test the capability of the presented method.

Nonlinear RCMC method for spaceborne/airborne forward-looking bistatic SAR

In the spaceborne/airborne forward-looking bistatic syn- thetic aperture radar （SA-FBSAR）, due to the system platforms＇ remarkable velocity difference and the forward-looking mode, the range cell migration （RCM） not only depends on the target＇s two- dimensional location, but also varies with the range location non- linearly. And the nonlinearity is not just the slight deviation from the linear part, but exhibits evident nonlinear departure in the RCM trajectory. If the RCM is not properly corrected, nonlinear image distortions would occur. Based on the RCM model, a modified two-step RCM compensation （RCMC） method for SA-FBSAR is proposed. In this method, firstly the azimuth-dependent RCM is compensated by the scaling Fourier transform and the phase multi- plication. And then the range-dependent RCM is removed through interpolation. The effectiveness of the proposed RCMC method is verified by the simulation results of both point scatterers and area targets.

A jamming method against bistatic SAR based on modulation theory

This paper focuses on the jamming problem of bistatic synthetic aperture radar (BiSAR), and a jamming method against BiSAR based on modulation theory is proposed. The proposed jamming method modulates the BiSAR signal with the cosinusoidal phase to generate multi-false targets in range, and further rotates the jammer to generate multi-false targets in azimuth. The range multi-false targets and azimuth multi-false targets form the two-dimensional cover jamming or deception jamming, which can protect the important targets efficiently. The number of false targets, the interval of false targets, and the jamming square can be adjusted flexibly by setting different range jamming parameters and azimuth jamming parameters. The jamming performance and the choosing criteria of jamming parameters are also discussed. Finally, the simulated data verify the effectiveness of the jamming method.

Bistatic RCS Prediction with Graphical Electromagnetic Computing (GRECO) Method for Moving Targets

Graphical Electromagnetic Computing (GRECO) is recognized as one of the most valuable methods of the RCS (Radar Cross Section) computation for the high frequency region. The method of GRECO and Monostatic bistatic Equivalence Theorem was used to calculate the bistatic RCS for moving targets in the high frequency region. Some computing examples are given to verify the validity of the method. Excellent agreement with the measured data indicates that the method has practical engineering value.

Target detection using CDMA based passive bistatic radar

Recently, the code division multiple access （CDMA） waveform exists in the large area across the world. However, when using the CDMA system as the illuminator of opportunity for the passive bistatic radar （PBR）, there exists interference not only from the base station used as the illuminator of opportunity but also from other base stations with the same frequency. And be cause in the CDMA system, the signal transmitted by each base station is different, using the direct signal of one base station can not cancel the interference from other base stations. A CDMA based PBR using an element linear array antenna as both the reference antenna and surveillance antenna is introduced. To deal with the interference in this PBR system, an adaptive temporal cancellation algorithm is used to remove the interference from the base station used as the illuminator of opportunity firstly. And then a robust adaptive beamformer is used to suppress the interference from other base stations. Finally, the preliminary experiment re sults demonstrate the feasibility of using CDMA signals as a radar waveform.

Research on spatial-variant property of bistatic ISAR imaging plane of space target

The imaging plane of inverse synthetic aperture radar （ISAR） is the projection plane of the target. When taking an image using the range-Doppler theory, the imaging plane may have a spatial-variant property, which causes the change of scatter＇s projection position and results in migration through resolution cells, In this study, we focus on the spatial-variant property of the imaging plane of a three-axis-stabilized space target. The innovative contributions are as follows. 1） The target motion model in orbit is provided based on a two-body model. 2） The instantaneous imaging plane is determined by the method of vector analysis. 3） Three Euler angles are introduced to describe the spatial-variant property of the imaging plane, and the image quality is analyzed. The simulation results confirm the analysis of the spatial-variant property. The research in this study is significant for the selection of the imaging segment, and provides the evidence for the following data processing and compensation algorithm.

Space-time clutter model for airborne bistatic radar with non-Gaussian statistics

To validate the potential space-time adaptive processing （STAP） algorithms for airborne bistatic radar clutter suppression under nonstationary and non-Gaussian clutter environments, a statistically non-Gaussian, space-time clutter model in varying bistatic geometrical scenarios is presented. The inclusive effects of the model contain the range dependency of bistatic clutter spectrum and clutter power variation in range-angle cells. To capture them, a new approach to coordinate system conversion is initiated into formulating bistatic geometrical model, and the bistatic non-Gaussian amplitude clutter representation method based on a compound model is introduced. The veracity of the geometrical model is validated by using the bistatic configuration parameters of multi-channel airborne radar measurement （MCARM） experiment. And simulation results manifest that the proposed model can accurately shape the space-time clutter spectrum tied up with specific airborne bistatic radar scenario and can characterize the heterogeneity of clutter amplitude distribution in practical clutter environments.

Precise time frequency synchronization technology for bistatic radar

A complete method of synchronization technology of bistatic radar using global position system （GPS） is presented. The pulse per second signal （1PPS） is elaborately modified to increase the time synchronization precision and keep loop locking. A very high time synchronization precision is achieved. Using the modified 1PPS to discipline the local OCXO, the reference frequency signal achieves both high long term stability （LTS） and short term stability （STS） properties. An algorithm, named phase abrupt change CFAR is presented to restrain the 1PPS phase abrupt change and keep loop locking. The experimental results indicate that this time and frequency synchronization method is effective and the time synchronization precision of the synchronization system can be improved from ±100 ns to ±25 ns. In addition, the phase noise is improved to 20 dB.

Study of detection performance of passive bistatic radars based on FM broadcast

The passive bistatic radar based on the FM broadcast has inherent superiority with respect to its survivability. In this article, the ambiguity function （AF） and the cross ambiguity function （CAF） of the FM radio signal are analyzed and illustrated. The Kolmogorov Smirnov （K-S） test verifies that the amplitude probability density function of the CAF side lobes is exponential; the distribution of the target is also deduced. Finally, the detection performance of the passive radar is studied, and the result shows that this new type bistatic radar has favorable detection capability.

Extended ambiguity function for bistatic MIMO radar

This paper derives the extended ambiguity function for a bistatic multiple-input multiple-output （MIMO） radar system, which includes the whole radar system parameters： geometric sensor configuration, waveforms, range, range rate, target scattering and noise characteristics. Recent research indicates the potential pa- rameter estimate performance of bistatic MIMO radars. And this ambiguity function can be used to analyze the parameter estimate performance for the relationship with the Cramer-Rao bounds of the estimated parameters. Finally, some examples are given to demonstrate the good parameter estimate performance of the bistatic MIMO radar, using the quasi-orthogonal waveforms based on Lorenz chaotic systems.

Modeling of bistatic scattering from an underwater non-penetrable target using a Kirchhoff approximation method

A numerical triangulation and transformation into the time domain of a Kirchhoff approximation(KA)method is proposed for the modeling of bistatic scattering from an underwater non-penetrable target.The time domain solution in this approximation can be split up into two parts:the solution of reflected field,contributing around the specular direction,and the solution of shadow radiation,contributing around the forward direction.An average solution in the time domain satisfying the reciprocity principle is presented.The solution is expressed in terms of non-singular functions.The proposed method is validated against a normal mode method for bistatic scattering from a rigid sphere.Moreover,the reflected and shadow highlights on the surface of the sphere are shown to verify the integration surface of the reflected field and shadow radiation.It is also tested against a finite element method and an experiment involving a scaled Benchmark Target Strength Simulation Submarine model.The time-angle bistatic spectra for the model are evaluated by the direct and transformed average solutions of KA,and the former accelerates its speed of calculation.The results are good,and show that this method can be used to predict the bistatic scattered field of a non-penetrable target.

Multi-target localization for bistatic MIMO radar in the presence of unknown mutual coupling

A decoupling-estimation signal parameters via rotarional invariance technique（ESPRIT） method is presented for multi-target localization with unknown mutual coupling in bistatic multiple-input multiple-output（MIMO） radar.Two steps are carried out in this method.The decoupling operation between angle and mutual coupling estimates is realized by choosing the auxiliary elements on both sides of the transmit and receive uniform linear arrays（ULAs）.Then the ESPRIT method is resilient against the unknown mutual coupling matrix（MCM） and can be directly utilized to estimate the direction of departure（DOD） and the direction of arrival（DOA）.Moreover,the mutual coupling coefficient is estimated by finding the solution of the linear constrained optimization problem.The proposed method allows an efficient DOD and DOA estimates with automatic pairing.Simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Target detection method in passive bistatic radar

Owing to the advantages in detecting the low altitude and stealth target,passive bistatic radar(PBR)has received much attention in surveillance purposes.Due to the uncontrollable characteristic of the transmitted signal,a high level range or Doppler sidelobes may exist in the ambiguity function which will degrade the target detection performance.Mismatched filtering is a common method to deal with the ambiguity sidelobe problem.However,when mismatched filtering is applied,sidelobes cannot be eliminated completely.The residual sidelobes will cause false-alarm when the constant false alarm ratio(CFAR)is applied.To deal with this problem,a new target detection method based on preprocessing is proposed.In this new method,the ambiguity range and Doppler sidelobes are recognized and eliminated by the preprocessing method according to the prior information.CFAR is also employed to obtain the information of the target echo.Simulation results and results on real data illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Phase synchronization processing method for alternating bistatic mode in distributed SAR

In the distributed synthetic aperture radar （SAR）, the alternating bistatic mode can perform phase reference without a synchronization link between two satellites compared with the pulsed alternate synchronization method. The key of the phase synchronization processing is to extract the oscillator phase differences from the bistatic echoes. A signal model of phase synchronization in the alternating bistatic mode is presented. The phase synchronization processing method is then studied. To reduce the phase errors introduced by SAR imaging, a sub-aperture processing method is proposed. To generalize the sub-aperture processing method, an echo-domain processing method using correlation of bistatic echoes is proposed. Finally, the residual phase errors of the both proposed processing methods are analyzed. Simulation experiments validate the proposed phase synchronization processing method and its phase error analysis results.

Impacts of space-time-frequency synchronization errors onwide-band target echo characteristics of bistatic/multistatic radar

Bistatic/multistatic radar has great potential advantages over its monostatic counterpart. However, the separation of a transmitter and a receiver leads to difficulties in locating the target position accurately and guaranteeing space-timefrequency synchronization of the transmitter and the receiver.The error model of space-time-frequency synchronization in a motion platform of bistatic/multistatic radar is studied. The relationship between the space synchronization error and the transmitter platform position, receiver platform position, moving state, and beam pointing error, is analyzed. The effect of space synchronization error on target echo power is studied. The target scattering characteristics are restructured by many separate scattering centers of the target in high frequency regions. Based on the scattering centers model of the radar target, this radar target echo model and the simulation method are discussed. The algorithm of bistatic/multistatic radar target echo accurately reflects the scattering characteristics of the radar target, pulse modulation speciality of radar transmitting signals, and spacetime-frequency synchronization error characteristics between the transmitter station and the receiver station. The simulation of bistatic radar is completed in computer, and the results of the simulation validate the feasibility of the method.

Joint adaptive waveform and baseline range design for bistatic radar

The problems of joint adaptive waveform design and baseline range design for bistatic radar to maximize the practical radar resolution were considered.Distinguishing from the conventional ambiguity function(AF)-based resolution which is only related with the transmitted waveform and bistatic geometry and could be regarded as the potential resolution of a bistatic radar system,the practical resolution involves the effect of waveform,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)as well as the measurement model.Thus,it is more practical and will have further significant application in target detection and tracking.The constraint optimization procedure of joint adaptive waveform design and baseline range design for maximizing the practical resolution of bistatic radar system under dynamic target scenario was devised.Simulation results show that the range and velocity resolution are enhanced according to the adaptive waveform and bistatic radar configuration.