A Signature Correlation Study of Ground Target VHF/UHF ISAR Imagery

Abstract

VV and HH-polarized radar signatures of several ground targets were acquired in the VHF/UHF band (171- 342 MHz) by using 1/35th scale models and an indoor radar range operating from 6 to 12 GHz. Data were processed into medianized radar cross sections as well as focused, ISAR imagery. Measurement validation was confirmed by comparing the radar cross section of a test object with a method of moments radar cross section prediction code. The signatures of several vehicles from three vehicle classes (tanks, trunks, and TELs) were measured and a signature cross correlation study was performed. The VHF/UHF band is currently being exploited for its foliage penetration ability, however, the coarse image resolution which results from the relatively long radar wavelengths suggests a more challenging target recognition problem. One of the study's goals was to determine the amount of unique signature content in VHF/UHF ISAR imagery of military ground vehicles. Open-field signatures are compared with each other as well as with simplified shapes of similar size. Signatures were also acquired on one vehicle in a variety of configurations to determine the impact of minor target variations on the signature content at these frequencies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA462278

Entities

People

  • A. J. Gatesman
  • C. Beaudoin
  • Julia Waldman
  • R. H. Giles
  • S. Carter
  • W. E. Nixon
  • W. T. Kersey

Organizations

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aspect Angle
  • Bandwidth
  • Cross Correlation
  • Detection
  • Frequency
  • Measurement
  • Microwave Radar
  • Radar
  • Radar Cross Sections
  • Radar Signatures
  • Recognition
  • Scale Models
  • Target Recognition
  • Target Signatures
  • Terahertz Radiation
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.