MEO Synthetic Aperture Radar (MEOSAR)
Abstract
(U) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) integration time is currently limited by the amount of ground vehicle motion encountered during the synthetic aperture collection time. For space radar systems, this has traditionally meant that SAR had to be accomplished at low earth orbit (LEO) trajectories where the collection time would be much shorter given the high speeds of a LEO satellite. Although the specifics depend heavily on geometric considerations, medium earth orbit (MEO) SAR imaging intervals can be a factor of approximately eight times longer, compared to a LEO alternative. The longer integration times required at MEO can have a major impact on the quality of the otherwise equivalent SAR image due to the presence of internal motion within the image scene. To achieve equivalent quality imagery, the contribution of the moving targets within the image must be excised. The MEO Synthetic Aperture Radar (MEOSAR) program will develop techniques to identify moving targets and extract them from the data prior to imaging to avoid the streaking caused by their motions. The program will develop reliable automated detection of moving targets within SAR imagery using a double thresholding process in interferometric phase and amplitude. This moving target detection technique can be readily reversed to excise the moving targets from the clutter (image) background. Temporal sub-array processing will demonstrate early detection and rejection of moving targets in sub-array images. The program will develop improved motion detection and removal algorithms, demonstrate their performance on simulated and airborne data, and develop an architectural concept for a MEOSAR system. The developed technology will be transitioned to the Air Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- da5db6850678bdbc83c295ff2da83483