Bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar with Application to Moving Target Detection

Abstract

Bistatic radar involves the use of a physically separated transmitter and receiver. This paper describes a bistatic radar system which uses the combination of a spaceborne synthetic aperture radar transmitter on board the European Space Agency's Envisat satellite, and a low-cost, stationary, ground-based receiver. The advantages of this variant of the bistatic configuration involve the passive and therefore undetectable nature of the receiver, in addition to standard bistatic considerations such as forward scatter. Experimental results obtained using the receiver, and an analysis into the utility of the system for moving target detection in the presence of clutter, based on a simulation in Matlab of the electronic Displaced Phase Centre Antenna technique are both presented. It is found that the DPCA method considered has a possible signal-to-clutter-and-noise ratio after cancellation and processing of approximately 10dB, although this is with the assumption of adequate received pulses and so integration gain, to offset the signal-to-noise ratio degradation caused by the canceller. A discussion of future experimental work, including the possible use of two such receivers for an investigation into interferometry concludes.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 14, 2005
Accession Number
ADA445192

Entities

People

  • A. P. Whitewood
  • B. R. Mueller
  • C. J. Baker
  • H. D. Griffiths

Organizations

  • University College London

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antennas
  • Bistatic Radar
  • Detection
  • Doppler Effect
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Moving Targets
  • Radar
  • Radar Cross Sections
  • Radar Signals
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Target Detection
  • Targets
  • Transmitters
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects