A Two-Dimensional Spectrum for General Bistatic SAR Processing

This letter derives a 2-D point target spectrum for general bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR). For the bistatic configuration, the contributions of the transmitter and the receiver to the overall instantaneous Doppler are unequal due to the different slant range histories. In this letter, an instantaneous Doppler contribution ratio is proposed to represent the difference between the instantaneous Doppler contributions of the transmitter and the receiver, which varies with instantaneous Doppler and range frequency. Then, the 2-D spectrum is obtained by using the stationary phase principle and Taylor series expansion for general bistatic SAR. The accuracy of the spectrum is verified with a point target simulation of different general bistatic configurations.      

POS与DEM辅助机载SAR多普勒参数估计

由于机载SAR多普勒参数受载机不稳定飞行和复杂地形影响明显,目前仍缺少有效的矢量估计法。本文对POS和DEM数据及其误差对机载多普勒参数的影响进行了分析,以距离-共面方程构建的SAR几何关系为基础,在POS和DEM数据支持下,建立了一种多普勒参数矢量估计法,并通过仿真对提出的方法进行了验证和分析。理论和仿真表明,本文方法在高山地形、不稳飞行及大斜视角等复杂条件下,亦能够为机载SAR瞬时多普勒中心提供高精度估计。     

机载双基地SAR实测数据成像

建立双基地SAR的单基地等效模型,分析了系统时间同步误差的机理;提出了双基地SAR回波中的直达波数据进行时间同步误差校正的算法;在双基地SAR单站等效模型的基础上,利用时变阶梯变换算法进行成像处理。经过理论分析,实测数据处理验证,这一算法是有效的,能够校正双基地SAR时间同步误差,较好地进行实测数据的成像处理。     

Doppler properties of spaceborne/airborne hybrid bistatic synthetic aperture radar

In this paper,a special geometry case of spaceborne-airborne bistatic SAR(SA-BiSAR) is considered,in which satellite and aircraft flight paths are parallel and their antennas are steering at the strip map.This case is a simple but typical application example,which is applicable for non-cooperative illumination.The integration time of SA-BiSAR system is derived via the motion of transmitter and receiver footprint.In parallel and stripmap mode,Doppler frequency is obtained through the combination be-tween spaceborne and airborne SAR.Other Doppler properties have been envisaged,including Doppler bandwidth and azimuth resolution.The overall simulation experiments are conducted and some characteristics are exhibited.The critical parameters,which have the significant effect on the SA-BiSAR Doppler properties,are extracted by analytical expressions and numerical simulations.In parallel and strip map mode and with reference to ENVISAT-1,SA-BiSAR system possesses the potential of yielding 10 m azi-muth resolution and 0.5 s integration time for C-band via the analysis of simulation results.     

星载SAR成像参数联合估计方法

通信系统的不可靠性会造成SAR卫星下发数据出现误码或丢失,从而导致几何参数的解译、计算出现较大的误差或者缺失,限制了SAR数据成像处理及后续利用。针对该问题,提出一种基于回波数据的成像参数联合估计方法。首先通过回波数据进行多普勒中心频率估计和多普勒调频斜率估计;然后,根据SAR多普勒参数特性,建立多普勒参数与几何参数之间的超定方程组,并利用多普勒参数估计值求解方程组反演几何参数;最后,利用多普勒参数估计值和几何参数估计值完成SAR数据成像处理。实验结果表明,本文方法可以获得可靠的多普勒参数估计值和几何参数估计值,从而有效地解决像参数欠缺情况下的星载SAR成像处理问题。     

Total zero Doppler Steering-a new method for minimizing the Doppler centroid

This letter presents a new method, called total Zero Doppler steering, to perform yaw and pitch steering for spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. The new method reduces the Doppler centroid to theoretically 0 Hz, independent of the range position of interest. Residual errors are only due to pointing inaccuracy or due to approximations in the implementation of the total zero Doppler steering law. This letter compares the new method with currently applied methods. The attitude angles and the residual Doppler centroid frequencies are calculated and depicted exemplarily for the parameters of TerraSAR-X, for which the new method will be implemented and used. The new method provides a number of advantages. The low residual Doppler centroid and the reduced variation of the Doppler centroid over range allow a more accurate Doppler centroid estimation. Due to the low residual Doppler centroid, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing can be alleviated, since the range cell migration is reduced and the Doppler frequencies are low. This facilitates the use of very efficient processing algorithms, which are based on approximations whose quality is better for low Doppler frequencies. The new method will furthermore optimize the overlap of the azimuth spectra of SAR image pairs for cross-track interferometry. Low Doppler centroids will also reduce the impact of coregistration errors on the interferometric phase. Furthermore, scalloping corrections in the ScanSAR processing are alleviated due to the low variation of the Doppler centroid over range.     

机载合成孔径雷达图像几何纠正方法研究

机载合成孔径雷达图像几何处理是机载合成孔径雷达图像后续处理的基础,同时也是机载合成孔径雷达大规模测绘应用的基础。本文根据机载合成孔径雷达图像的成像机理,基于距离多普勒模型,考虑到合成孔径雷达成像时斜视角与多普勒频率的关系,在影像纠正时,将斜视角作为一个变量处理来减小雷达成像时零多普勒误差的影响。试验证明,此种方法比将斜视角作为零处理时的纠正精度有明显提高。详细地分析了利用此方法进行几何纠正时控制点的个数和分布对纠正精度的影响。     

A New Look at the Bistatic-to-Monostatic Conversion for Tandem SAR Image Formation

The bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, which are converted into equivalent monostatic data by proper preprocessing, can be processed by standard monostatic focusing algorithms. The dip moveout (DMO) approach, which is derived from seismic data processing, converts the bistatic data into equivalent monostatic data by a short time-domain Rocca's smile operator. A 2-D exact point-target (PT) reference spectrum is derived in this letter for tandem bistatic configuration. The geometry-based bistatic formulation is shown to be actually equivalent to Rocca's smile operator, although they are derived from the pure SAR and geophysics points of view, respectively. Moreover, the new PT spectrum can be extended to deal with azimuth-invariant bistatic SAR data. Interpretations on the equivalent monostatic range wavenumber are presented in this letter, which help understand the conversion from the radar signal processing viewpoint.      

滑动聚束模式SAR影像干涉处理方法

合成孔径雷达聚焦成像时,因地球旋转和传感器姿态控制误差而产生的非零多普勒中心在聚焦影像方位线中引入了线性相位,因此在干涉处理时方位线不能作为基带信号进行重采样。为了确保相位信息在重采样过程中不出现损失,一般采用内插核调制的方法完成方位线重采样。滑动聚束模式影像因成像的特殊性,聚焦影像的多普勒中心分布更加复杂,其方位线为时变信号。分析了滑动聚束模式影像点目标的多普勒历程,多普勒中心在方位线的变化规律,时变信号的内插方法,并通过模拟实验验证非零多普勒中心对内插精度的影响,最后对DORIS软件重采样环节进行改进,即采用新的多普勒中心表达式对内插核进行调制完成影像重采样,实现TerraSAR-X卫星滑动聚束模式影像的干涉处理。     

极化SAR图像中非平稳目标的检测与区分方法研究

在合成孔径雷达(SAR)极化测量中,通常认为雷达视角相对于目标是不变的。然而实际上SAR通常具有较宽的方位向波束,在孔径合成过程中,所成的全分辨率SAR图像包含多个斜视角下的目标回波。极化参数的子孔径分析可以用来对成像过程表现出非平稳散射行为的媒质进行检测。本文提出了一套基于子孔径分解和对散射矩阵及参数进行统计分析的方法,来检测两类非平稳目标。仿真结果表明,这种方法具有较好的非平稳目标检测和区分性能。     

The Effect of the Bistatic Scattering Angle on the High-Frequency Radar Cross Sections of the Ocean Surface

High-frequency (HF) bistatic Doppler cross sections of the ocean surface are examined with respect to their dependency on the bistatic angle. Previously derived results which incorporate a pulsed dipole source and two orders of scatter are considered. It is trivially seen that the first-order result has a linear dependence on the cosine of the bistatic angle. The second-order echo accounts for a double scatter of incident radiation from first-order surface waves - the so-called electromagnetic term - and a single scatter from a second-order ocean wave. The latter, generally referred to as the second-order hydrodynamic term because it originates from coupling between first-order ocean waves, predominates the Doppler continuum in most regions of interest. The analysis presented here verifies that in addition to a cosine-dependent reduction in cross section magnitude with increasing bistatic angle, both components of the second-order scatter tend to zero under the condition of near-forward scatter for bistatic HF radar operation. Of course, this imposes practical limitations on the region over which a bistatically configured HF radar system may be used to remotely sense ocean surface parameters.     

A Novel Approach to Range Doppler SAR Processing Based on Legendre Orthogonal Polynomials

The range Doppler algorithm (RDA) is based on Taylor series expansion for the transfer function (TF) phase component, resulting in increasing phase error as the range frequency or the squint angle increases. We introduce Legendre orthogonal polynomials into synthetic aperture radar data processing steps to replace Taylor series expansion used in approximating the TF phase. A novel range Doppler imaging approach based on Legendre expansion is addressed with an extended RDA as example, and the analytical expressions of the new phase multiplication factors are then derived. The simulation results show that the proposed method provides better focusing performance than the conventional RDA in the same squint case and is more suitable for the large squint mode while there is negligible increment of computation load.     

Geocoding SAR interferograms by least squares adjustment

A geocoding model for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry based on a least-squares adjustment combining interferometric phase, range, Doppler centroid frequency, flight path and control point data is proposed. The complete mathematical framework for the computation of object space coordinates without approximations is presented. It provides a way to an efficient implementation of the algorithm for geocoding the pixels of an interferogram. The method is preferably applicable to spaceborne dual-pass interferometry, and independent of the orbit configuration. An accuracy analysis of object point positioning is conducted and results of geocoding an ERS tandem interferogram are shown.     

Carrier phase wind-up in GPS reflectometry

Changes in GPS transmitter and receiver antenna orientations induce variations in observed carrier phase values. An analytic formula for this well-known carrier phase wind-up correction is derived which generalizes a previous result. In addition, it is shown that in GPS reflectometry the wind-up values of direct and coherently reflected rays may differ by up to several centimeters. The results are discussed on the basis of simulated measurements.     

On the Existence of Coverage and Integration Time Regimes in Bistatic SAR Configurations

Bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an extension of traditional monostatic SAR, which increases the flexibility in designing SAR missions. We describe a scheme for the computation of integration time and azimuth coverage of bistatic SARs based on space-time diagrams. A classification of bistatic SAR configurations is introduced in terms of size and velocity on the ground of antenna footprints. Bistatic SAR regimes are also identified.     

A preventative approach to mitigating CW interference in GPS receivers

In the global positioning system (GPS), code division multiple access (CDMA) signals are used. Because of the known spectral characteristics of the CDMA signal, continuous wave (CW) interference has a predictable effect on the different pseudo random noise (PRN) spreading codes (unique to each satellite) depending on the Doppler frequency of the signal. The Doppler frequency for each signal is also predictable once the receiver position is known. As different satellite signals have different Doppler frequencies, the effect on the signal quality is also different. In this paper first the effect is studied analytically. The concept of an “exclusion zone” is defined and analyzed for each satellite. This exclusion zone, where that satellite should not be used due to interference degradation, is shown to be predictable for each satellite as a function of time. Using this prediction, the CW interference effect on the positioning quality of the receiver can be mitigated by ignoring the affected satellites within exclusion zones when performing position evaluation. The threshold beyond which a satellite should be excluded is then derived by studying the mutual effects of the geometry and the signal quality of that satellite on the positioning quality. Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) uses redundancy in measurements to perform an internal consistency check to see if all of the measurements are satisfactory. In this paper this technique is also used to mitigate the effect of CW interference on the positioning accuracy. Finally it is shown that the prediction of the exclusion zone for each satellite outperforms the RAIM algorithm in mitigation the effect of the interference when 5 satellites are visible. An erratum to this article can be found at     

基于距离模型的波数域算法

合成孔径雷达(SAR)存在四种距离模型,本文利用这四种模型推导出四种波数域算法,给出了四种算法详细的推导过程,并得到了四种算法和四种模型之间的一一对应关系。文章提出了单色等效斜视波数域算法,该算法不需要插值,因而提高了计算效率,适合于小斜视角且测绘带宽度不大的情况下的快速成像。最后利用该算法对星载SAR的实际数据进行成像,结果表明在成像精度牺牲不大的情况下可以大大提高成像速度。     

Geometry and accuracy of reflecting points in bistatic satellite altimetry

The analysis of the time and space distribution of specular (reflecting) points in bistatic altimetry between GPS and CHAMP satellites or SAC-C (taken as examples) is extended from Wagner and Klokočník (2003 J. Geod 77: 128–138). We demonstrate a significantly higher number and density of reflecting points in bistatic altimetry in comparison with traditional monostatic altimetry. After an outline of our older accuracy assessment for the vertical position of the reflecting point, we add a new independent derivation and compare both approaches. We account for orbit errors of both the transmitters (GPS) and receiver (CHAMP) satellites, and the measurement (delay) error. We found that the accuracy of the vertical position of the reflecting point decreases only slowly with increasing off-nadir angle and that the orbit errors must be accounted for if decimeter and better accuracy is required. In this paper, we do not study errors such as state of the ocean, technical parameters of the receiving system, and atmospheric corrections.     

Quartic-Phase Algorithm for Highly Squinted SAR Data Processing

In this letter, an algorithm based on a quartic-phase model is discussed for processing highly squinted synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from a large range swath. In the algorithm, a precise quartic-phase model is adopted to describe a range-dependent property of the SAR signal; a constant factor and a secondary scaling process are introduced to make the algorithm easy to be utilized compared with traditional nonlinear chirp scaling algorithms. The novel algorithm can process SAR data under a squint angle above 50deg and achieve a focus depth over 60 km     

GPS单点测速的误差分析及精度评价 (英文)

Error sources which decrease the accuracy of GPS in absolute velocity determination have been changed since SA was turned off. Firstly, quantities of all kinds of error sources that influence velocity determination are analyzed. The potential accuracy of GPS absolute velocity determination is derived from both theory and field GPS data simulation. After that, two tests were carried out to evaluate the performance of GPS absolute velocity determination in the case of a static and an airborne GPS receiver and INS （Inertial Navigation System） instrument in kinematic mode. In static mode, the receiver velocity has been estimated to be several mm/s with the carrier-phase derived Doppler measurements, and several cm/s with the receiver generated Doppler measurements. In kinematic mode, GPS absolute velocity estimates are compared with the synchronized measurements from the high accuracy INS. The root mean square statistics of the velocity discrepancies between GPS and INS come up to dm/s. Moreover, it has a strong correlation with the acceleration or jerk of the aircraft.