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.

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.

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.

High-resolution forward-looking imaging algorithm for missile-borne detectors

Aiming at a novel missile-borne detector in the optional burst height proximity fuze, a self-adaptive high-resolution forward-looking imaging algorithm (SAHRFL-IA) is presented. The echo data are captured by the missile-borne detector in the target regions;thereby the azimuth angulation accuracy at the same distance dimension is improved dynamically. Thus, azimuth information of the targets in the detection area may be obtained accurately. The proposed imaging algorithm breaks through the conventional misconception of merely using azimuth discrimination curves under ideal conditions during monopulse angulation. The real-time echo data from the target region are used to perform error correction for this discrimination curve, and finally the accuracy of the azimuth angulation may reach the optimum at the same distance dimension. A series of experiments demonstrate the validity, reliability and high performance of the proposed imaging algorithm. Azimuth angulation accuracy may reach ten times that of the detection beam width. Meanwhile, the running time of this algorithm satisfies the requirements of missile-borne platforms.

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.

Three-dimensional bistatic interferometric ISA Rimaging

An approach based on interferometry technique is proposed for three-dimensional （3D） bistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar （ISAR） imaging. It is converted to a monostatic problem by using the theory that a bistatic radar equals a monostatic radar located on the bisector of bistatic an- gle. Then, interferometric phases extracted from a pair of cross shaped antennas are used to esti- mate the height and associated rotational velocity. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to e- valuate this method.

New analytical imaging algorithm for general case airborne bistatic SAR

This paper focuses on the general case （GC） airborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar （SAR） data processing, and a new analytical imaging algorithm based on the extended Loffeld＇s bistatic formula （ELBF） is proposed. According to the bistatic SAR geometry, the track decoupling formulas that convert the bistatic geometry to the receiver-referenced geometry in a concise way are derived firstly. Then phase terms of ELBF are decomposed into two independent phase terms as the range phase term and the azimuth phase term in a new way. To get the focusing result, the bistatic deformation （BD） term is compensated in the two-dimensional （2- D） frequency domain, and the space-variances of the range phase term and the azimuth phase term are eliminated by chirp scaling （CS） and chirp z-transform （CZT）, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by the simulation results.

Monostatic and Bistatic Low Frequency Ultrawideband SAR Imaging Experiment

Low frequency ultrawideband (LF UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has lately become of a particular interest to SAR community. Monostatic and bistatic LF UWB SAR system has the well foliage penetrating capability, high-resolution imaging and providing the increased information. In 2015, a monostatic and bistatic LF UWB SAR imaging experiment was conducted. In this experiment, the monostatic and bistatic data were collected simultaneously by operating a moving vehicle-based radar in the SAR mode, in conjunction with a stationary ground-based receiver. The aim was to investigate the imaging property of the bistatic LF UWB SAR system. The one pulse per second (1 PPS) signal in combination with the global position system (GPS) disciplined 100 MHz oscillator from the GPS receivers was used to implement the time and frequency synchronization in this SAR system. The bistatic SAR image was obtained by the subaperture spectrum-equilibrium method integrated with the fast factorized back projection (FFBP) algorithm. Bistatic experiment results are show to prove the validity of the bistatic LF UWB SAR imaging experiment.

Sparse three-dimensional imaging for forward-looking array SAR using spatial continuity

For forward-looking array synthetic aperture radar(FASAR),the scattering intensity of ground scatterers fluctuates greatly since there are kinds of vegetations and topography on the surface of the ground,and thus the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of its echo signals corresponding to different vegetations and topography also varies obviously.Owing to the reason known to all,the performance of the sparse reconstruction of compressed sensing(CS)becomes worse in the case of lower SNR,and the quality of the sparse three-dimensional imaging for FASAR would be affected significantly in the practical application.In this paper,the spatial continuity of the ground scatterers is introduced to the sparse recovery algorithm of CS in the threedimensional imaging for FASAR,in which the weighted least square method of the cubic interpolation is used to filter out the bad and isolated scatterer.The simulation results show that the proposed method can realize the sparse three-dimensional imaging of FASAR more effectively in the case of low SNR.

Railway Track Verification Using a Forward-Looking SAR GPR

It is a challenge to evaluate the conditions of railway track without interruption of regular traffic. In this paper, the authors introduce the detection of cavities under the railway substructure by using forward-looking ground penetrating radar （FLGPR）. Main advantages of FLGPR are that such a system can illuminate a large area and can stand off a long distance over its down-looking counterpart. Two methods, frequency wave-number （F-W） synthetic aperture imaging （SAI） and beam-forming by delay and sum （DAS）, are applied to process the collected data. Analysis and measuring show that the distinct radar image of the cavity beneath the substructure 1.2 m deep can be formed by these two methods.

双基地宽带成像雷达时间及调频率同步方法

双基地宽带成像雷达由于不同源会产生时间同步误差和调频率同步误差。针对这一问题,面向低成本、小型化雷达接收机设计同步方法。针对时间同步问题,提出了直达波触发的收发脉宽非一致时间同步方案,通过使用直达波触发接收窗启用时刻,同时增加接收窗长度和低通匹配滤波,以完成时间同步。针对调频率同步问题,提出了采用吕氏分布对调频率误差进行估计,进而进行补偿,以完成调频率同步。该时间及调频率同步方法基本不需要增加接收机硬件成本,可以适应小型化接收雷达需求。基于小型宽带雷达搭建室内的双基宽带雷达模型,实验实现了双基雷达同步以及数据采集、成像。实验结果验证了所提方法的有效性。

基于电磁散射模型的海上舰船双基SAR图像仿真

合成孔径雷达(synthetic aperture radar,SAR)在地海环境遥感和目标探测识别中发挥着重要作用。相对于单基SAR,双基SAR能够通过调整发射机和接收机的角度对场景进行多方位观测,因此开展海上舰船目标双基SAR图像仿真可为非合作目标的特征研究和探测识别提供方法和手段,在目标探测识别方面有着重要意义。为此,本文利用基于面元化的简化小斜率近似(facet-based simplified small slope approximation,FBS-SSA)方法与几何光学/物理光学(geometrical optics/physical optics,GO/PO)混合方法,提出了一种基于电磁散射模型的海上舰船目标复合场景双基SAR图像仿真方法,实现了不同双基角下的海上舰船SAR图像仿真,并分析了雷达飞行方向与舰船角度、发射机和接收机相对位置、极化、海况对雷达图像的影响。结果表明,双基角、极化、舰船朝向都会对双基SAR图像产生较大的影响,因此可以通过获取不同双基角度下的复合场景SAR图像特征从而可以更好地开展舰船识别。此外,SAR图像中的阴影特征也可作为舰船识别的辅助手段。

基于多核DSP的星载双基FMCW SAR成像算法实现

调频连续波(frequency modulated continuous wave,FMCW)合成孔径雷达(synthetic aperture radar,SAR)降低了传感器的峰值传输功率,使系统的重量和成本最小化,被广泛应用于机载平台。将双基地构型与FMCW技术相结合,应用于星载平台,即构成星载双基地FMCW SAR。本文对距离多普勒(range-Doppler,RD)算法进行改进,建立起一种高性能的适宜星载双基地平台的FMCW SAR成像频域算法,这种算法的处理精度明显提高,成像效果更好。基于多核数字信号处理器(digital signal processor,DSP)构建适用于星载双基SAR成像算法的并行处理架构,完成软硬件设计实现。验证了所提软件架构可以满足实时成像需求,以及算法工程化实现的可行性。

改进的NLCS星弹双基SAR俯冲前视成像算法

在俯冲阶段由于导弹具有加速度,速度大小和方向会发生急剧变化,其收发瞬时斜距会变复杂,将导致距离-方位向耦合严重和方位空变性问题,若直接进行方位向聚焦压缩,会造成图像畸变。针对这两个难题,采用一种改进的非线性变标(Nonlinear Chirp Scaling,NLCS)算法运用到新型星弹双基系统模型中。首先建立了星弹双基系统模型;接着利用级数反演法推导了二维频谱表达式,在二维频域中通过完成距离压缩和徙动校正来消除距离-方位耦合的影响,再利用改进的NLCS算法对方位向多普勒调频率进行补偿解决方位向空变性问题,完成方位向压缩聚焦,从而得到良好的成像结果。与改进的距离多普勒(Range Doppler,RD)算法相比,该算法减少了1.013×10^(8)浮点运算量(Floating Point Operations per Second,FLOPS),边缘点方位向聚焦效果有了很大的改善,方位向峰值旁瓣比(Peak Sidelobe Ratio,PSLR)、积分旁瓣比(Integrated Sidelobe Ratio,ISLR)、分辨率分别提升了2.41 dB,1.29 dB,1.16 m,证明了该方法的有效性与可行性。

基于级数反演的星弹双基俯冲前视成像算法

由于导弹在俯冲阶段存在垂直向加速度,速度的大小和方向在不断变化,弹头沿曲线运动,导致瞬时斜距十分复杂,造成严重的距离徙动现象,方位向和距离向存在严重的二维耦合问题。针对此问题提出了一种基于级数反演的星弹双基俯冲前视成像算法。该算法根据星弹双基系统特性,搭建了星弹双基轨迹模型,在距离频域方位时域进行多普勒频率校正,再利用级数反演的思想,推导出回波信号的二维频谱表达式,接着在二维频域上进行距离徙动校正和距离向、方位向压缩,确定目标成像位置,完成成像聚焦。最后通过计算量的分析和仿真验证了算法的可行性和有效性。该算法可实现对多目标的探测和区分,对军方察打一体化研究具有理论指导意义,对中国军事行动方面具有一定价值。

A Novel Imaging Algorithm for Airborne Bistatic Squint SAR with Unparallel Trajectories

A novel analytical imaging algorithm is proposed for the strip-map mode of airborne bistatic squint SAR with unparallel trajectories. The algorithm derives the two-dimensional （2D） spectrum formula of the point target echo by using the contribution ratios of Doppler frequency modulation ratios of the transmitter and receiver as the weighting coefficients. Through decoupling the target position against the tracks of the transmitter and receiver, the range parameter and the azimuth one in the spectrum formula are separated. In 2D frequency domain, 2D Chirp-Z transform （2D-CZT） is applied to correcting the migrations of the echo along the range and azimuth after the bistatic deformation term has been compensated, so the target image is precisely focused. The advantage of the algorithm is easy to be expanded to the virtual wide swath by blocking the radar data along the range and azimuth to limit the 2D residual migrations. Simulation results confirm the validity of the 2D-CZT algorithm.

Pre-processing for time domain image formation in SS-BSAR system

A pre-processing procedure is designed for a space-surface bistatic synthetic aperture radar （SS-BSAR） system when a time domain image formation algorithm is employed. Three crucial technical issues relating to the procedure are fully discussed. Firstly, unlike image formation algorithms operating in the frequency domain, a time domain algorithm requires the accurate global navigation satellite system （GNSS） time and position. This paper proposes acquisition of this information using a time-and-spatial transfer with precise ephemeris and interpolation. Secondly, synchronization errors and compensation methods in SS-BSAR are analyzed. Finally, taking the non-ideal factors in the echo and the compatibility of image formation algorithms into account, a matched filter based on the minimum delay is constructed. Experimental result using real data suggest the pre-processing is functioning properly.

FMCW-InISAR imaging for high-speed target based on bistatic configuration

Interferometric inverse synthetic aperture radar(InISAR)imaging has been proved to be a powerful means for obtaining threedimensional(3-D)space shape of noncooperative targets.Frequency modulated continuous wave(FMCW)InISAR(FMCWInISAR)has unique advantages of low power,low cost,and small volume compared with traditional coherent pulsed InISAR.However,FMCW-InISAR imaging has two additional issues to consider,the one is the invalidation of the assumption of stop&go,which is caused by the relatively long sweep interval of FMCW;the other is the isolation of the transmitting and receiving antennas,which is the inherent issue of the transmitter-receiver community radar systems.To solve these two problems,a bistatic FMCW-InISAR imaging algorithm for high-speed targets is proposed in this paper.For improving the isolation of the transmitting and receiving antennas,a bistatic configuration based FMCW-InISAR system is designed.According to the characteristics of bistatic,a bistatic equivalent motion model and corresponding signal model are established.Since the assumption of stop&go is invalid in the case of FMCW,indicating that the target cannot be viewed as motionless during a sweep repetition interval(SRI),a parametric estimation based quadratic phase factor(QPF)compensation method is investigated to eliminate the range walk caused by the radial motion of the target during the SRI.In addition,considering the farfield trait of the target and combining the traditional InISAR imaging process,a combined QPF compensation technique is proposed to reduce the computational burden of the algorithm.Finally,the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed algorithm are evaluated by some simulations.

星源照射双/多基地SAR成像

星源照射双/多基地合成孔径雷达(SAR),采用卫星发射,卫星、临近空间、飞机、地面等平台接收,实现对地海面场景和目标的高分辨成像。该技术具有可成像范围广、隐蔽性好、抗干扰能力强等优点,且可以通过波束调控实现扫描、聚束、滑动聚束等多种组合成像模式,从而获取更加丰富的成像信息,具有十分广阔的民用和军事应用前景。目前,国内外针对星源照射双/多基地SAR成像技术开展了多年的研究,积累了诸多研究成果。该文分别从系统组成、构型方法、回波模型、成像方法、收发同步与试验验证等方面对该技术进行阐述与分析,同时对相关的研究工作进行较系统的回顾,并展望了星源照射双/多基地SAR成像技术未来的发展方向。

基于深度学习的非合作双基地雷达目标检测方法

非合作双基地雷达由于接收的目标信号能量不强且回波脉冲间相位同步困难,在目标检测时无法进行相参处理从而带来弱小目标检测困难的问题。为解决这一问题,本文把一维雷达数据转换成二维图像数据进行目标检测,通过将脉冲压缩后的雷达回波在慢时间维排列形成二维矩阵,获得雷达回波信号的距离-慢时间图像,输入YOLO(you only look once)v5s网络进行特征学习,实现非合作双基地雷达目标智能化检测。针对距离-慢时间图像中待检测目标的不显著性以及受到背景信息干扰严重的问题,本文对YOLOv5s网络进行改进:首先在Neck部分增加跨连接通路,使训练过程中持续有原始信息的参与;其次通过添加注意力机制SENet模块,加强网络对目标以及周边信息的关注度;最后在骨干网络引入Swin Transformer模块,加强网络对弱目标的发现与表征能力。然后,基于上述工作提出一种基于改进的YOLOv5s距离-慢时间图像处理的非合作双基地雷达目标检测方法。通过大量的对比实验和信噪比灵敏度测试实验,该方法在仿真的雷达回波数据集上获得了99.1%的检测精确度以及98.8%的召回率,比YOLOv5s网络分别提高了4.5%和4.2%,表明该改进方法能有效提高YOLOv5s网络检测性能;对于脉冲压缩后信噪比为7.1 dB的目标,检测率达到98.5%,传统方法的检测概率仅为79.9%,表明本文所提方法能有效提高目标检测的准确率和信噪比灵敏度,具有较强的应用价值。