Sea surface imaging simulation and sea wave retrieval method \\based on MIMO radar

Abstract

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar is an emerging radar system that has significant potential. MIMO radar can provide a higher resolution real-time imaging solution than traditional phased-array radar schemes and is well suited for the imaging of complex sea surfaces. MIMO radar imaging of sea scenes is still in the exploratory stage and several key issues need to be resolved and improved further. With the objective of achieving sea surface monitoring using MIMO radar, some basic research work on MIMO radar imaging simulation of sea surfaces, and MIMO radar sea current and wave information retrieval were conducted in this study. In order to analyze the feasibility and advantages inherent in MIMO radar imaging simulation of sea surfaces, ocean surface imaging based on MIMO radar was carried out via computer simulation. The curvature-modified two-scale method and shadowing modulation were used to build a back scatter section distribution model of a sea surface, which is taken as the object of MIMO radar imaging. In terms of sea current and wave information retrieval from MIMO radar images, the weighted least square method was used to fully explore the advantages of MIMO radar surface imaging. While retrieving the wave spectrum and wave parameters, the modulation transfer function of MIMO radar was determined via imaging simulation experiments. The retrieved significant wave height, main wave direction, and cross-zero cycle from MIMO radar images were found to be more precise than those from navigation radar images. The simulation results obtained also showed that MIMO radar sea surface imaging and parameter retrieval are superior to and more effective than marine radar.