Bryan L. Burns

A high-resolution, four-band SAR Testbed with real-time image formation

This paper describes the Twin-Otter SAR Testbed developed at Sandia National Laboratories. This SAR is a flexible, adaptable testbed capable of operation on four frequency bands: Ka, Ku, X, and VHF/UHF bands. The SAR features real-time image formation at fine resolution in spotlight and stripmap modes. High-quality images are formed in real time using the overlapped subaperture (OSA) image-formation and phase gradient autofocus (PGA) algorithms.

SAR image-formation algorithm that compensates for the spatially variant effects of antenna motion

A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) obtains azimuth resolution by combining data from a number of points along a specified path. Uncompensated antenna motion that deviates significantly from the desired path produces spatially-variant errors in the output image. The algorithm presented in this paper corrects many of these motion-related errors. In this respect, it is similar to time-domain convolution, but it is more computationally efficient. The algorithm uses overlapped subapertures in a three- step image-formation process: course-resolution azimuth processing, fine-resolution range processing, and fine-resolution azimuth processing. Range migration is corrected after the first stage, based on coarse azimuth position. Prior to the final azimuth-compression step, data coordinates are determined to fine resolution in range and coarse resolution in azimuth. This coordinate information is combined with measured motion data to generate a phase correction that removes spatially-variant errors. The algorithm is well-suited for real-time applications, particularly where large flight-path deviations must be tolerated.

Radar cross section statistics of cultural clutter at Ku-band

Knowing the statistical characteristics of the radar cross-section (RCS) of man-made, or cultural clutter, is crucial to the success of clutter mitigation, radar target detection algorithms, and radar system requirements in urban environments. Open literature studies regarding the statistical nature of cultural clutter focus primarily on radar probability models or limited experimental data analysis of specific locations and frequencies. This paper seeks to expand the existing body of work on cultural clutter RCS statistics at Ku-band for ground moving target indication (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications. We examine the normalized RCS probability distributions of cultural clutter in several urban scenes, across aspect and elevation angle, for vertical transmit/receive (VV) polarizations, and at diverse resolutions, using experimental data collected at Ku-band. We further describe frequency and RCS strength statistics of clutter discretes per unit area to understand system demands on radars operating in urban environments in this band.

Radome effects on coherent change detection radar systems

A radome, or radar dome, protects a radar system from exposure to the elements. Unfortunately, radomes can affect the radiation pattern of the enclosed antenna. The co-design of a platform’s radome and radar is ideal to mitigate any deleterious effects of the radome. However, maintaining structural integrity and other platform flight requirements, particularly when integrating a new radar onto an existing platform, often limits radome electrical design choices. Radars that rely heavily on phase measurements such as monopulse, interferometric, or coherent change detection (CCD) systems require particular attention be paid to components, such as the radome, that might introduce loss and phase variations as a function of the antenna scan angle. Material properties, radome wall construction, overall dimensions, and shape characteristics of a radome can impact insertion loss and phase delay, antenna beamwidth and sidelobe level, polarization, and ultimately the impulse response of the radar, among other things, over the desired radar operating parameters. The precision-guided munitions literature has analyzed radome effects on monopulse systems for well over half a century. However, to the best of our knowledge, radome-induced errors on CCD performance have not been described. The impact of radome material and wall construction, shape, dimensions, and antenna characteristics on CCD is examined herein for select radar and radome examples using electromagnetic simulations.

A parametric study of rate of advance and area coverage rate performance of synthetic aperture radar.

The linear ground distance per unit time and ground area covered per unit time of producing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, termed rate of advance (ROA) and area coverage rate (ACR), are important metrics for platform and radar performance in surveillance applications. These metrics depend on many parameters of a SAR system such as wavelength, aircraft velocity, resolution, antenna beamwidth, imaging mode, and geometry. Often the effects of these parameters on rate of advance and area coverage rate are non-linear. This report addresses the impact of different parameter spaces as they relate to rate of advance and area coverage rate performance.

Radar Cross Section Statistics of Dismounts at Ku-band

Knowing the statistical characteristics of a targets radar cross-section (RCS) is crucial to the success of radar target detection algorithms. A wide range of applications currently exist for dismount (i.e. human body) detection and monitoring using ground-moving target indication (GMTI) radar systems. Dismounts are particularly challenging to detect. Their RCS is orders of magnitude lower than traditional GMTI targets, such as vehicles. Their velocity of about 0 to 1.5 m/s is also much slower than vehicular targets. Studies regarding the statistical nature of the RCS of dismounts focus primarily on simulations or very limited empirical data at specific frequencies. This paper seeks to enhance the existing body of work on dismount RCS statistics at Ku-band, which is currently lacking, and has become an important band for such remote sensing applications. We examine the RCS probability distributions of different sized humans in various stances, across aspect and elevation angle, for horizontal (HH) and vertical (VV) transmit/receive polarizations, and at diverse resolutions, using experimental data collected at Ku-band. We further fit Swerling target models to the RCS distributions and suggest appropriate detection thresholds for dismounts in this band.