Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Target Research Articles

GLRT‐based detection of targets composed of distributed scattering centres

AbstractAttributed scattering problems have been found to be helpful in inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging and target recognition problems. In this model, the scattering centres are divided into two categories: localised and distributed. Localised scattering centres are those that are concentrated in a small area, while distributed scattering centres are spread out over a larger area. Several methods have been proposed to estimate the scattering centres which aim to accurately identify the location and characteristics of the scattering centres. However, detecting a distributed scattering centre remains a challenging task. A novel technique is proposed based on sparse signals to improve the detection of distributed scattering centres from localised ones. This technique takes advantage of the sparsity of the signals to accurately identify the location of the distributed scattering centres. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of algorithm in detecting distributed scattering centres. This improved detection capability has significant implications for ISAR imaging and target recognition problems.

Non-Cooperative Target Attitude Estimation Method Based on Deep Learning of Ground and Space Access Scene Radar Images

Determining the attitude of a non-cooperative target in space is an important frontier issue in the aerospace field, and has important application value in the fields of malfunctioning satellite state assessment and non-cooperative target detection in space. This paper proposes a non-cooperative target attitude estimation method based on the deep learning of ground and space access (GSA) scene radar images to solve this problem. In GSA scenes, the observed target satellite can be imaged not only by inverse synthetic-aperture radar (ISAR), but also by space-based optical satellites, with space-based optical images providing more accurate attitude estimates for the target. The spatial orientation of the intersection of the orbital planes of the target and observation satellites can be changed by fine tuning the orbit of the observation satellite. The intersection of the orbital planes is controlled to ensure that it is collinear with the position vector of the target satellite when it is accessible to the radar. Thus, a series of GSA scenes are generated. In these GSA scenes, the high-precision attitude values of the target satellite can be estimated from the space-based optical images obtained by the observation satellite. Thus, the corresponding relationship between a series of ISAR images and the attitude estimation of the target at this moment can be obtained. Because the target attitude can be accurately estimated from the GSA scenes obtained by a space-based optical telescope, these attitude estimation values can be used as training datasets of ISAR images, and deep learning training can be performed on ISAR images of GSA scenes. This paper proposes an instantaneous attitude estimation method based on a deep network, which can achieve robust attitude estimation under different signal-to-noise ratio conditions. First, ISAR observation and imaging models were created, and the theoretical projection relationship from the three-dimensional point cloud to the ISAR imaging plane was constructed based on the radar line of sight. Under the premise that the ISAR imaging plane was fixed, the ISAR imaging results, theoretical projection map, and target attitude were in a one-to-one correspondence, which meant that the mapping relationship could be learned using a deep network. Specifically, in order to suppress noise interference, a UNet++ network with strong feature extraction ability was used to learn the mapping relationship between the ISAR imaging results and the theoretical projection map to achieve ISAR image enhancement. The shifted window (swin) transformer was then used to learn the mapping relationship between the enhanced ISAR images and target attitude to achieve instantaneous attitude estimation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method was verified using electromagnetic simulation data, and it was found that the average attitude estimation error of the proposed method was less than 1°.

Study on the micro-Doppler separation method of bistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar targets with rotating parts based on complex variational mode decomposition

In bistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar (Bi-ISAR) imaging of targets with rotating components, the micro-Doppler effect generated by rotating components can produce interference bands in azimuth resolution, seriously affecting the imaging results and causing difficulties in target recognition. A unique Bi-ISAR target micro-Doppler separation method with rotating components is proposed by introducing the complex variational mode decomposition (CVMD) method. First, the echo signal is decomposed into different intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by CVMD for the Bi-ISAR imaging target with rotating parts. Then, IMFs are divided into main and micromotion parts by setting the energy threshold. The IMFs belonging to the main part are extracted, and the imaging is performed using the range-Doppler algorithm. The simulation results show that CVMD outperforms the complex empirical mode decomposition algorithm and the complex local mean decomposition algorithm in the Doppler separation of Bi-ISAR targets with rotating components. In addition, CVMD exhibits good robustness and provides innovative ideas for future research on micro-Doppler separation technology.

Sequential ISAR Target Classification Based on Hybrid Transformer

To make full use of the sequential information obtained by continuous inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, this article proposes a sequential ISAR target classification network based on hybrid transformer (HT). First, a temporal–spatial encoder based on the attention mechanism is designed to extract long-term and global features from sequential images. Meanwhile, a local feature encoder based on the 3-D convolution neural network is designed to extract short-term and local features. Then, the above two features are fused and the classification labels are obtained by a channel encoder–decoder. In 4-satellite target classification experiments, the proposed HT shows high accuracy and robustness to the unknown image scaling, rotation, and combined deformations.

L(1/2) Regularization for ISAR Imaging and Target Enhancement of Complex Image

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging technology are powerful tools to acquire high-resolution radar image, which is an important basis for further automatic target recognition (ATR). For ISAR, if the radar frequency is high enough, signals that the radar received usually have strong sparsity when the radar data convert to Fourier domain, and they can be downsampled and restored by compressed sensing (CS). As for the regularization method in CS theory, while L₁ regularization is popular, the Lq(0 < q < 1) regularization is proved to be a sparse regularization framework and could achieve well performance. In this work, inspired by the L₁-based complex approximated message passing (CAMP) method and the L(1/2) regularization framework, we extend the CAMP method into an L(1/2)-based iterative thresholding method in ISAR imaging under the downsampling rate of the scattered fields. The matched filtering (MF) method is widely used to generate the SAR image, where targets are usually overwhelmed by noise and scene background. In order to make the target enhanced to further improve recognition, regularization is adopted in recovering sparse solution and the clutter reduction of MF image. This work implements the L(1/2)-based regularization into the SAR image target enhancement and the scene-noise reduction via CAMP. The SAR image is generated by ideal point scatterers and the real measurement data of RADARSAT-1. Given the sparsity estimated, the experiment results show the advantage of L(1/2) regularization compared with the L₁ regularization.

Integrating deep learning-based data driven and model-based approaches for inverse synthetic aperture radar target recognition

We explore the blending of model-based and deep learning approaches for target recognition in inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imagery. It evaluates five different approaches, namely, a model-based geometric hashing approach, a supervised deep learning approach, and three different blending models that fuse the model-based and deep learning approaches. The model-based approach extracts scattering centers as features and requires domain experts to identify and characterize important features of a target, which makes the training process very costly and hard to generalize when the image quality degrades in low signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio conditions. Next, a deep learning algorithm using a convolutional neural network is considered to extract the spatial features when raw ISAR data are used as input. This approach does not need an expert and only requires the labels of images for training. Finally, three model-based and deep learning approaches are blended together at the feature level and decision level to benefit from the advantages of both approaches, achieving a higher performance. The results show that the blending of the two approaches achieves a high performance while providing explainable inferences. The performance of the five different approaches is evaluated under varying conditions of occlusion, clutter, masking of the target, and adversarial attacks. It is empirically shown that the model-based and deep learning approaches are able to complement each other and can achieve better classification accuracy upon fusing the integrated approach.

High Precision Cross-Range Scaling and 3D Geometry Reconstruction of ISAR Targets Based on Geometrical Analysis

Cross-range scaling of sequential inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images is a vital problem for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of spatial targets. Specifically, since the angular velocity of spatial targets cannot be accurately estimated due to their non-cooperative nature, the obtained cross-range coordinates of the scattering points often have non-negligible errors. The errors may result in a serious distortion of the reconstructed geometry of the targets, which makes consequent target recognition and classification unreliable. To tackle this problem, via geometrical analysis, the relationship between the cross-range projection vector and the range projection vector is revealed for the first time, based on which a novel algorithm is proposed to iteratively scale the cross-range coordinates with no need for estimating the angular velocity of the spatial targets. Experimental simulations show that the proposed algorithm not only provides a higher accuracy of 3D reconstruction, but also has a lower computational complexity compared with conventional algorithm.

ISAR Target Recognition Based on Two-dimensional Locality Preserving Projection

It is well known that the relationship between different radar target data is often nonlinear, so the recognition rate will decrease if the traditional linear subspace methods are used to reduce the dimension of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images. Recently, Locality Preserving Projections (LPP), a kind of manifold learning algorithm, is proposed for ISAR target recognition. But the ISAR images must be vectorized in LPP algorithm,which would result in the problem of singularity, and the local structural information from original images is easy to lose. In this paper, a novel ISAR target recognition algorithm is presented by using two-dimensional Locality Preserving Projections (2DLPP). The proposed 2DLPP algorithm is based directly on 2D ISAR images rather than 1D vectors as conventional LPP does. The simulated experimental results suggested that 2DLPP has better classification performance comparing to PCA,LDA and LPP.

ISAR IMAGING BASED ON ITERATIVE REWEIGHTED LP BLOCK SPARSE RECONSTRUCTION ALGORITHM

Sparse signal recovery algorithms can be used to improve radar imaging quality by using the sparse property of strong scatterers. Traditional sparse inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging algorithms mainly consider the recovery of sparse scatterers. However, the scatterers of an ISAR target usually exhibit block or group sparse structure. By utilizing the inherent block sparse structure of ISAR target images, an iterative reweighted lp (0 <p ≤ 1) block sparse signal recovery algorithm is proposed to enhance imaging quality in this paper. Firstly, an ISAR imaging signal model is established with the aid of sparse basis, and the imaging is mathematically converted into block reweighted cost function optimization problem. Then, an iterative algorithm is used to solve the reweighted function minimization problem. In each iteration, the weights are updated based on the closed form solution of the previous iteration. The proposed method is effective to exploit the underlying block sparse structures which does not need the prior knowledge of the number of the blocks. Real data ISAR imaging results are provided to verify that the proposed algorithm in this paper can achieve better images than the images obtained by several popular sparse signal recovery algorithms.

Pattern-Coupled Sparse Bayesian Learning for Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging

We propose a pattern-coupled sparse Bayesian learning method for inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging by exploiting a block-sparse structure inherent in ISAR target images. A two-dimensional pattern-coupled hierarchical Gaussian prior is proposed to model the pattern dependencies among neighboring scatterers on the target scene. An expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is developed to infer the maximum a posterior (MAP) estimate of the hyperparameters, along with the posterior distribution of the sparse signal. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

MTRC compensation in high-resolution ISAR imaging via improved polar format algorithm based on ICPF

In this paper, we present a detailed analysis on the performance degradation of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imagery with the polar format algorithm (PFA) due to the inaccurate rotation center. And a novel algorithm is developed to estimate the rotation center for ISAR targets to overcome the degradation. In real ISAR scenarios, the real rotation center shift is usually not coincided with the gravity center of the high-resolution range profile (HRRP), due to the data-driven translational motion compensation. Because of the imprecise information of rotation center, PFA image yields model errors and severe blurring in the cross-range direction. To tackle this problem, an improved PFA based on integrated cubic phase function (ICPF) is proposed. In the method, the rotation center in the slant range is estimated firstly by ICPF, and the signal is shifted accordingly. Finally, the standard PFA algorithm can be carried out straightforwardly. With the proposed method, wide-angle ISAR imagery of non-cooperative targets can be achieved by PFA with improved focus quality. Simulation and real-data experiments confirm the effectiveness of the proposal.

ISAR target recognition based on non-negative sparse coding

Aiming at technical difficulties in feature extraction for the inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) target recognition, this paper imports the concept of visual perception and presents a novel method, which is based on the combination of non-negative sparse coding (NNSC) and linear discrimination optimization, to recognize targets in ISAR images. This method implements NNSC on the matrix constituted by the intensities of pixels in ISAR images for training, to obtain non-negative sparse bases which characterize sparse distribution of strong scattering centers. Then this paper chooses sparse bases via optimization criteria and calculates the corresponding non-negative sparse codes of both training and test images as the feature vectors, which are input into k neighbors classifier to realize recognition finally. The feasibility and robustness of the proposed method are proved by comparing with the template matching, principle component analysis (PCA) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) via simulations.

Tensor subclass discriminant analysis for radar target classification

A novel tensor subspace learning algorithm, called tensor subclass discriminant analysis, is presented for inverse synthetic aperture radar target classification. Assuming there are multiple subclasses in each class of inverse synthetic aperture radar data, an objective function, which is based on clustering based analysis criterion and aimed at maximising the distance between subclasses of different classes, is constructed for target classification using inverse synthetic aperture radar images in the form of a tensor. Then the formula of the algorithm is deduced, and the optimal tensor projections for classification are worked out. Simulation demonstrates the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.

Micro-Doppler Effect Analysis and Feature Extraction in ISAR Imaging With Stepped-Frequency Chirp Signals

The micro-Doppler (m-D) effect induced by the rotating parts or vibrations of the target provides a new approach for target recognition. To obtain high range resolution for the extraction of the fine m-D signatures of an inverse synthetic aperture radar target, the stepped-frequency chirp signal (SFCS) is used to synthesize the ultrabroad bandwidth and reduce the requirement of sample rates. In this paper, the m-D effect in SFCS is analyzed. The analytical expressions of the m-D signatures, which are extracted by an improved Hough transform method associated with time-frequency analysis, are deduced on the range-slow-time plane. The implementation of the algorithm is presented, particularly in those extreme cases of rotating (vibrating) frequencies and radii. The simulations validate the theoretical formulation and robustness of the proposed m-D extraction method.

A New Algorithm to Generate the Reference Images of Ship Targets for ATR Using ISAR

Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) is useful for automatic target recognition (ATR) because it can reconstruct a high resolution image of an observed target. In ISAR imaging, 3-dimensional reflectivity distribution of a target is projected to the plane defined by range axis and cross range axis. In order to recognize the observed target by using pattern matching, reference images of candidate targets must be adequately generated. However, that is difficult because the cross range axis, which depends on the target's unknown rotational motion, can not be determined precisely. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm to generate reference ISAR images of ship targets. In this algorithm, tracking data, Doppler width and the slope of the centerline of an ISAR target image are used to specify the cross range axis. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was evaluated by using simulated targets.

High resolution reconstruction of ISAR images

A 2-D high-resolution spectral analysis algorithm with application to an inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, is presented. This algorithm is based on two-dimensional linear prediction using autoregressive (AR) coefficients. Stability is guaranteed by AR process pole adjustment. An ISAR target is modeled for a complex scatterer geometry. Computer simulation results are provided for the high-resolution reconstruction of ISAR images.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Effect Of Data Reduction On Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) Image Quality And Target Shape Descriptions

This paper is a preliminary report on investigations into the effects of data reduction on inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image quality and classifier performance. The case considered here is the effect of decimating the ISAR radar returns. Decimation of the type described induces image aliasing because of the signal processing involved in ISAR image formation. This familiar effect is used to model the degradation of object boundaries, which are used in classification. Constraints on subsampling will be derived as a function of target size, image signal-to-noise ratio, and classifier-required image quality. We will proceed in three main steps. The structure of a typical ISAR imaging and target classification system will be reviewed and the need for data reduction analyzed. We will then define a measure of image quality and its effect on classifier performance. The question will then be posed, and answered, as to the effect on image quality of decimation of the ISAR target spectral sequence (TSS). The technique used is to analyze the relationship between ISAR imaging and the two-dimensional Fourier transform, then to apply the sampling theorem from 2-D signal processing.