A Multi-Target ISAR Imaging Method Based on Zhang-Suen Thinning and Radon Transform

Abstract

Achieving high-resolution images of multiple targets is a crucial problem in ISAR imaging. Mono-target imaging methods generally fail to address multi-target imaging formation. To tackle this problem, we propose a multi-target ISAR imaging method based on Zhang-Suen thinning and the Radon transform in this paper. Zhang-Suen thinning is first utilized to extract skeletons of overlapped range profiles. Since Zhang-Suen thinning retains the motion information of multiple targets and reduces the overlap, Radon transform is allowed to estimate range walk more accurately. Subsequently, these aligned targets are isolated in the image domain. We then utilize the Maximum-Correlation Range Alignment (MCRA) and the Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA) methods to compensate motions of range profiles thoroughly. Through the above procedures, we achieve accurately compensated and completely separated ISAR images of different targets.