Fast Factorized Back Projection Imaging Algorithm integrated with Motion Error Estimation for Bistatic Forward-looking SAR

Abstract

Bistatic forward-looking synthetic aperture radar (BFSAR) is increasingly in the focus of study, as it breaks through the limitations of imaging on forward-looking terrain of a moving platform. Fast factorized Back-projection (FFBP) is a reliable BFSAR imaging algorithm with both imaging precision and efficiency being taken into consideration. In FFBP imaging, compensation of the motion errors is important to obtain a well-focused image. To accomplish an accurate motion compensation in image processing, a high-precision navigation system is needed. However, in many cases, because of the accuracy limit of such systems, motion errors are difficult to be compensated correctly, resulting chiefly in resolution decrease in the final images. To deal with such a problem, we propose an FFBP imaging algorithm integrated with motion error estimation for BFSAR. We empirically compare the proposed method with several state-of-art BFSAR imaging and autofocus algorithms. Simulations on BFSAR data show that the proposed method is more accurate and has similar computational cost.