Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Synthetic Aperture Radar Research Articles

A Study on the Feasibility of Stop-and-Go Approximation in FMCW SAR

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) specializes in capturing two-dimensional images of Earth’s surface. Because satellites or aircraft have mainly been used as SAR platforms, pulse radar systems with high peak transmitted power have been preferred for long-range detection. However, because systems based on pulse radar are generally too heavy and expensive, lightweight and low-cost frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar systems have attracted increasing interest, and many studies on FMCW SAR signal processing are being conducted. The pulse duration of FMCW radar is considerably longer than that of pulse radar. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether stop-and-go approximation (SAG) is still valid for FMCW radar. If SAG is not applicable, an additional, time-consuming range cell migration correction process is required. In this study, the conditions under which SAG can be applied to FMCW SAR were analyzed. Moreover, Ku-band FMCW SAR field tests were conducted to experimentally validate the feasibility of SAG. Several quantitative parameter values demonstrating the advantages of applying SAG were identified.

FMCW SAR Imaging Algorithm of Sliding Spotlight Mode

Under the frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) system, the “stop-and-go” echo model of traditional pulse synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is no longer applicable. The range-azimuth coupling term introduced by fast time going term cannot be ignored, or otherwise it will cause degradation in the quality of generated image. This paper proposes a Sliding Spotlight SAR imaging algorithm based on improved two-step method. To address the problems of big interval of FMCW SAR and difference from the pulse SAR echo model triggered by dechirp reception, the proposed algorithm has improved the ωk algorithm and realized great focusing of FMCW signal. Furthermore, this algorithm adopts the method of focusing azimuth deramp in frequency domain to prevent the aliasing problem in image domain encountered by the classic two-step method. The simulation and real data results prove that this method can realize good focusing of FMCW SAR Sliding Spotlight mode.

A Modified Range Migration Algorithm for FMCW SAR Signal Processing

The range migration algorithm (RMA) is an accurate imaging method for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals. However, this algorithm requires a big amount of computation when performing Stolt mapping. In high squint and wide beamwidth imaging, this operation also requires big memory size to store the result spectrum after Stolt mapping because the spectrum will be significantly expanded. A modified Stolt mapping that does not expand the signal spectrum while still maintains the processing accuracy is proposed in this paper to improve the efficiency of the RMA when processing frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) SAR signals. The modified RMA has roughly the same computational load and required the same memory size as the range Doppler algorithm (RDA) when processing FMCW SAR data. In extreme cases when the original spectrum is significantly modified by the Stolt mapping, the modified RMA achieves better focusing quality than the traditional RMA. Simulation and real data is used to verify the performance of the proposed RMA.

High-Squint FMCW SAR Imaging via Wavenumber Domain Algorithm

Nowadays, because the frequency modulation continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) shows good potential in minimal transmission power and weight reduction of radar systems, it has been widely used and has become a common technique in modern short-range high-resolution earth observation. Different from the conventional pulsed mode, the stop-to-go approximation is not valid in FMCW SAR. Thus, the typical SAR imaging methods need to be modified to adapt the continuous-wave scheme in practical data processing. In this letter, a wavenumber domain algorithm (WDA) is derived and used for the FMCW SAR imaging under squint and high-squint cases. With the help of the exact scene recovery ability of the proposed WDA, we can achieve the accurate recovery of the considered scene even when using the collected high-squint data and hence obtain the well-focused high-resolution image of the considered scene. Experimental results with simulated and airborne data verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Spaceborne Interrupted Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave SAR Imaging Based on Accumulated Aperture Interpolation Technique

The Intermittent Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave (IFMCW) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode solves the problem that the spaceborne Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave (FMCW) SAR must be bistatic by alternately transmitting and receiving signals in different time intervals. However, in this mode, the radar antenna will work intermittently in the transmitting and receiving state, resulting in periodical gaps in the echo data. In order to solve the above problems, a Missing-data Iterative Adaptive imaging processing Approach (MIAA) is proposed, based on Accumulated Aperture Interpolation Technique (AAIT) to recover the data gaps. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively recover missing data, thus significantly improving imaging quality and greatly suppressing the artifacts energy caused by the periodical data gaps.

On the Frequency Sweep Rate Estimation in Airborne FMCW SAR Systems

Use of Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems requires to accurately know the electronic parameters of the system. In particular, the use of an incorrect value of the Frequency Sweep Rate (FSR) introduces geometric distortions in the focused images. Recently, a method, that we name FSR Estimate Through Corner reflectors (FSRETC), has been proposed to estimate the FSR value actually employed by the radar. The method is based on the use of the SAR image focused with the available erroneous FSR. Moreover, it exploits a number of Corner Reflectors (CRs) deployed over the illuminated area. In this work, we provide an assessment of the capabilities of the FSRETC algorithm. The overall analysis is performed through the use of a real dataset consisting of 10 acquisitions carried out in 2018 (5 acquisitions) and 2019 (5 acquisitions) with an airborne FMCW SAR system. The presented experimental analysis shows that even with a single acquisition, use of two CRs sufficiently far from each other in the range direction, allows achieving an accurate estimate of the searched FSR. Moreover, it is shown that the obtained estimate is very stable over the time. Therefore, the overall procedure can be applied only once, since the estimated values can be safely used for the subsequent missions, at least for the time interval considered in the work, that is, 14 months. In addition, the presented results pose the basis for an enhanced measurement strategy that allows effective application of the FSRETC algorithm through the use of only one CR.

Airborne FMCW SAR Sparse Data Processing via Frequency-Scaling Algorithm

Using the continuous-wave technology to replace the conventional pulse-mode, frequency-modulation continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has shown good potentials of reducing the weight of the system and the sensors' peak transmission power. In order to relax the requirements of data bandwidth and storage, and increase the swath, the SAR system will collect the downsampled data, which makes the traditional matched filtering (MF)-based method unable to recover the considered scene, leading to failed reconstruction. To solve this problem, this letter presents an FMCW SAR sparse imaging method based on the frequency-scaling algorithm (FSA). Experimental results on the real data show that compared with the MF-based FMCW SAR imaging algorithms, the proposed method can improve the recovered image performance effectively. For the sparse surveillance region, it can achieve accurate recovery even from the downsampled data. Because the computational complexity of the proposed method is in the same order as that of MF, the sparse imaging of large-scale scenes can also be realized in the FMCW SAR.

Back-projection imaging algorithm of random noise frequency modulation continuous wave SAR

The combination of random noise frequency-modulation continuous wave technology and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) promises a cost-effective, low probability of intercept and high electromagnetic compatibility. This paper analyses the time-domain restricting algorithms for random noise frequency modulation continuous wave (RNFMCW) SAR. Two versions of the back-projection algorithm are proposed. At first, the radar antenna continuous motion in a pulse repetition period of RNFMCW SAR is analysed. Then the phase term which is caused by the continuous motion is described by a approximate expression with Taylor expansion. Meanwhile, both the start-stop approximate back-projection algorithm and the modified back-projection algorithm are proposed. In the end, with the help of numerical simulation, the limitations of the start-stop approximation back-projection algorithm and the validity of the modified back-projection algorithms are illustrated.

Back-projection imaging algorithm of random noise frequency modulation continuous wave SAR

The combination of random noise frequency-modulation continuous wave technology and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) promises a cost-effective, low probability of intercept and high electromagnetic compatibility. This paper analyses the time-domain restricting algorithms for random noise frequency modulation continuous wave (RNFMCW) SAR. Two versions of the back-projection algorithm are proposed. At first, the radar antenna continuous motion in a pulse repetition period of RNFMCW SAR is analysed. Then the phase term which is caused by the continuous motion is described by a approximate expression with Taylor expansion. Meanwhile, both the start-stop approximate back-projection algorithm and the modified back-projection algorithm are proposed. In the end, with the help of numerical simulation, the limitations of the start-stop approximation back-projection algorithm and the validity of the modified back-projection algorithms are illustrated.

Sparse Scene Recovery for High-Resolution Automobile FMCW SAR via Scaled Compressed Sensing

This paper introduces a sparse scene reconstruction algorithm for automobile frequency-modulated continuous-wave synthetic aperture radar (FMCW SAR) through scaled compressed sensing (CS). An FMCW radar leads to low manufacturing cost, compact realization, and low transmission power. An automobile SAR is more economical and easier to implement than typical SAR platforms (e.g., satellites and aircraft). We apply CS to randomly subsampled raw data of automobile FMCW SAR for sparse reconstruction. We exploit the fact that the velocity of an automobile is significantly lower than that of the SAR platforms, which leads to a vastly narrow bandwidth of an azimuth-matched filter in the azimuth compression of the range-Doppler algorithm (RDA). Low-frequency azimuth data have a fundamental effect on azimuth compression. We propose a new reconstruction scheme, scaled CS, which specializes in low-frequency information recovery for automobile SAR. The scheme is based on basis pursuit denoising (BPDN). A Ku-band FMCW SAR system is developed to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. We mount our system on an automobile and collect FMCW SAR raw data in the stripmap mode with a van maintained a constant speed on a highway. The proposed reconstruction algorithm shows improved recovery performance for automobile FMCW SAR, which is validated by processing a high-resolution real SAR image.

A Modified Range Migration Algorithm for FMCW SAR Signal Processing

<p class="AbstractText"><span lang="EN-AU">The range migration algorithm (RMA) is an accurate imaging method for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals. However, this algorithm requires a big amount of computation when performing Stolt mapping. In high squint and wide beamwidth imaging, this operation also requires big memory size to store the result spectrum after Stolt mapping because the spectrum will be significantly expanded. A modified Stolt mapping that does not expand the signal spectrum while still maintains the processing accuracy is proposed in this paper to improve the efficiency of the RMA when processing frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) SAR signals. The modified RMA has roughly the same computational load and required memory size as the range Doppler algorithm (RDA) when processing FMCW SAR data. In extreme cases when the original spectrum is significantly modified by the Stolt mapping, the modified RMA achieves better focusing quality than the traditional RMA. Simulation and real data are used to verify the performance of the proposed RMA.</span></p>

A Modified Range Migration Algorithm for FMCW SAR Signal Processing

<p class="AbstractText"><span lang="EN-AU">The range migration algorithm (RMA) is an accurate imaging method for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals. However, this algorithm requires a big amount of computation when performing Stolt mapping. In high squint and wide beamwidth imaging, this operation also requires big memory size to store the result spectrum after Stolt mapping because the spectrum will be significantly expanded. A modified Stolt mapping that does not expand the signal spectrum while still maintains the processing accuracy is proposed in this paper to improve the efficiency of the RMA when processing frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) SAR signals. The modified RMA has roughly the same computational load and required memory size as the range Doppler algorithm (RDA) when processing FMCW SAR data. In extreme cases when the original spectrum is significantly modified by the Stolt mapping, the modified RMA achieves better focusing quality than the traditional RMA. Simulation and real data are used to verify the performance of the proposed RMA.</span></p>

RANGE MIGRATION ALGORITHM IN THE PROCESSING CHAIN OF SIGNALS OF A GROUND-BASED SAR SENSOR

Abstract. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) transmission is a viable option for producing high-resolution ground-based imaging radars. Compared with pulsed SAR systems, the combination of FM-CW technology and SAR processing techniques have the advantages of small cubage, lightweight, cost-effectiveness, and high resolution in the SAR image. These characteristics make FM-CW SAR suitable to be deployed as payload on ground Based SARs (GB-SARs) for environmental and civilian applications. In this paper, the Range Migration Algorithm (RMA) is used in the processing chain of a Ground-Based SAR (GB-SAR) sensor. The mentioned sensor has been developed in Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MReSL) at the School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, the University of Tehran for the generation of a complex image from the raw signal. The raw signal is acquired with that sensor working at S-band, frequency modulating from 2.26 GHz to 2.59 GHz.

Wavenumber Domain Algorithm-Based FMCW SAR Sparse Imaging

Frequency-modulation continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) can minimize the peak transmission power of sensors and reduce the size and weight of the systems. Wavenumber domain algorithm (WDA) is an accurate focusing method for SAR imaging. By using the exact signal form to compensate the phase error, WDA can achieve exact scene recovery from high-squint and long aperture data as long as the platform velocity is stable. In this paper, we introduce WDA to FMCW SAR and discuss the WDA-based FMCW SAR sparse imaging method. There are two main contributions of this paper: 1) a motion compensation-based WDA imaging method is introduced to correct the motion error that is often associated in practical airborne FMCW SAR data and 2) a novel WDA-based FMCW SAR sparse imaging method is developed to further improve the performance of recovered image. Compared with the typical WDA algorithm, the sparse imaging method can suppress the noise and sidelobes and perform the sparse scene recovery from the downsampled data. Experimental results via simulated and real airborne data verify the presented WDA-based FMCW SAR imaging methods.

Geometric distortions in FMCW SAR images due to inaccurate knowledge of electronic radar parameters: analysis and correction by means of corner reflectors

In the last years the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology has been playing an ever greater role in the realization of compact, light and cheap Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems to be mounted onboard small, low altitude platforms such as airplanes, helicopters and drones.To correctly focus FMCW SAR images, it is necessary to accurately know some system parameters, including the frequency sweep rate of the signal transmitted by the radar. It may happen, however, that this frequency sweep rate is not very accurately measured by the radar provider, and thus an incorrect value of this parameter is used during the SAR data focusing procedure. This may produce serious geometric distortion effects in the focused FMCW SAR images. To circumvent these problems, in this work we present a procedure that estimates the frequency sweep rate actually employed by the FMCW radar, thus providing a key information that can be then profitably used to achieve the correct focusing of the SAR data acquired by the radar system at hand. More specifically, we propose an algorithm that exploits on one side the focused SAR images corrupted by the geometric distortion effects induced by the inaccurate knowledge of this radar parameter, and on the other side the very precise in-situ measurements of the positions of a limited number of Corner Reflectors (CRs) properly deployed over the observed scene.The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been tested on real data acquired by an airborne X-band FMCW SAR system.

Refocusing FMCW SAR Moving Target Data in the Wavenumber Domain

Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is now a commonly adopted solution for producing high-resolution electromagnetic images of the earth surface. However, many SAR applications, such as detection or imaging of moving targets, have not yet been thoroughly researched for FMCW scenarios. This paper presents a refocusing technique that works in the wavenumber domain and is based on the reference spectrum of a point-like moving target. The method is illustrated using simulated experiments, and is further tested by processing real data collected by the Ka-band MIRANDA-35 sensor. The obtained results are validated and compared with independent ground measurements, thus demonstrating the accuracy of the presented method.

Parameters estimation and imaging of moving target for frequency-modulated continuous-wave synthetic-aperture radar system

According to frequency-modulated continuous-wave synthetic-aperture radar, we establish the signal model of a moving target and propose an algorithm for target parameters estimation and imaging. The key procedures of moving target imaging include velocities estimation and range migration correction. Compared with conventional methods, the effect introduced from the along-track velocity is taken into account during the range migration correction to improve the correction accuracy. Moreover, fractional Fourier transform is adopted to estimate the Doppler parameters. To summarize, the proposed method has three advantages. First, by carrying out rough and precise estimation separately, both accurate velocity estimation and better robustness are obtained. Second, this method is available for moving targets with Doppler ambiguity. Third, the third-order phase error derived from moving target is taken into account to improve the azimuth compression result. Finally, a complete flowchart of the proposed method is presented and is verified by both simulation and real data.

Generalized Continuous Wave Synthetic Aperture Radar for High Resolution and Wide Swath Remote Sensing

A generalized continuous wave synthetic aperture radar (GCW-SAR) concept is proposed in this paper. By using full-duplex radio frontend and continuous wave signaling, the GCW-SAR system can overcome a number of limitations inherent within the existing SAR systems and achieve high-resolution and wide-swath remote sensing with low-power signal transmission. Unlike the conventional pulsed SAR and the frequency-modulated continuous-wave SAR, the GCW-SAR reconstructs a radar image by directly correlating the received 1-D raw data after self-interference cancellation with predetermined location-dependent reference signals. A fast imaging algorithm, called the piecewise constant Doppler (PCD) algorithm, is also proposed, which produces the radar image recursively in the azimuth direction without any intermediate step, such as range compression and migration compensation, as required by conventional algorithms. By removing the stop-and-go assumption or slow-time sampling in azimuth, the PCD algorithm not only achieves better imaging quality but also allows for more flexible waveform and system designs. Analyses and simulations show that the GCW-SAR tolerates significant self-interference and works well with a large selection of various system parameters. The work presented in this paper establishes a solid theoretical foundation for next-generation imaging radars.

Phase Calibration of an Along-Track Interferometric FMCW SAR

We introduce a phase calibration scheme for an interferometric frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to correct range-dependent phase errors in FMCW SAR interferograms. We demonstrate that the receiver filters operating on the FMCW beat frequency signal account for most of the phase mismatch between the different receiver channels. The scheme presented estimates the phase error in each channel. We present results of the scheme for three estimation approaches (curve fitting, joint least squares, and maximum likelihood) for two different phase models. The results are quantified by computing the reduction in spectral energy associated with the phase mismatch. We find that phase error can be reduced by 14 dB using the approach.

Multichannel simultaneous dual-band fully polarimetric airborne synthetic aperture radar: system features and experimental results

This paper presents a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology-based airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. This radar system operates on an eight-channel simultaneous dual band (X- and L-bands) in fully polarimetric mode. Compared with the traditional multiband airborne SAR, this radar system features a small size and low power consumption based on the FMCW technology. The antenna subsystem can be easily mounted behind the cargo door of a small aircraft platform without any modifications to the aircraft structure. A Cessna 208 is employed to mount this radar system in a left side looking installation. A single pass flight test is carried out in China, and preliminary imaging results are acquired and classified. The merged X–L band image provides the highest classification accuracy compared with the single X- and L-bands and optical images. The experimental results indicate that the proposed FMCW SAR is a powerful tool for terrain classification, especially for rural-urban region classification.