Radar imaging of noncooperating maneuvering aircraft

Abstract

The problem of performing automatic high resolution radar imaging of noncooperating maneuvering aircraft is investigated. In order to define the main features of the radar processor, a numerical model of the system which makes use of an electromagnetic model of the moving aircraft so that the actual, complete operating conditions can be simulated has been developed. The availability of such a numerical tool avoids the need to carry out long and onerous experimental tests. In this framework an automatic high-resolution radar imaging technique has been developed. The imaging algorithm provides parameters useful for target classificatio

Robust range alignment algorithm via Hough transform in an ISAR imaging system

“…In the course of the transformation each edge pixel supports those lines that could have caused it [ll]; i.e., the accumulator is incremented by one count at the parameter combination (m,c) evaluated by (2). For a given pixel in the binary image at position (x,y), this procedure produces a line in the accumulator when m varies between its predetermined limits.…”

“…The two main peaks at m = 0 indicate the NMTs. According to (2) the values of intercept c immediately provide the range bin numbers of the NMTs. Hence, it is possible to eliminate the NMTs by simply setting the signals of those ranges to zero.…”

“…The phase of this isolated scatterer is subtracted from all other signals within each range bin, so that this reference becomes the artificial center of rotation as in a turntable experiment. Other phase compensation methods consist of the target centroid algorithm [14] or autofocusing techniques [2].…”