A new range Doppler algorithm for processing squint multi-receiver SAS data

Abstract

Squint multi-receiver synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) data is more challenging to process than its common side-looking counterpart because its geometry is more complicated. While traditional multi-receiver algorithms handle general side-looking cases, they do not work well for squint cases. No multi-receiver algorithm for handling squint multi-aperture SAS data has been reported. This paper focuses on the imaging algorithm of the squint multi-receiver SAS. Firstly, the “non-stop-go-stop” signal model is established for the squint multi-receiver, and the fourth-order Taylor expansion is used to approximate the accurate instantaneous slant range. Secondly, the system transfer function in the 2-D frequency domain is given. Thirdly, based on the 2-D frequency domain, a new range Doppler algorithm is applied to the squint multi-receiver SAS. Finally, simulations show that the algorithm can handle high squint multi-receiver data.