The application of charge-coupled device technology to produce imagery from synthetic aperture radar data
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Arens, W. E.↗
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Simulation of the Effects of Hard Limiting on Image Quality of Synthetic Aperture Radar
Starting with a magnetic tape of a scene viewed by the Landsat satellite, the radar return of reflectors whose average intensity matched that of the picture elements in the scene has been simulated. The returns were processed in three ways: normally or with no quantization, with a procedure simulation IF hard limiting, and with a procedure simulating video (baseband) hard limiting. For each type of processing an image for a one, two, and four-look system has been developed. It was found that IF limiting is slightly better than video limiting, while both can be reasonable trade-offs of image quality for reduced data rates when the number of looks is four or less. These conclusions are supported by photographs representing the different processing techniques.
Lipes, R. G.↗
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data processing
The available and optimal methods for generating SAR imagery for NASA applications were identified. The SAR image quality and data processing requirements associated with these applications were studied. Mathematical operations and algorithms required to process sensor data into SAR imagery were defined. The architecture of SAR image formation processors was discussed, and technology necessary to implement the SAR data processors used in both general purpose and dedicated imaging systems was addressed.
Beckner, F. L.↗
Synthetic aperture radar correlator phase histories
This report supplements the design of the following subsystems: (1) zoom azimuth telescope, zooming range from 3X to 6X. (2) range curvature correcting lenses. (3) Sphero-cylindrical shift lens. (4) Auxiliary lenses (tilted cylinder and matching lens).
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Synthetic aperture radar operator tactical target acquisition research
A radar target acquisition research study was conducted to access the effects of two levels of 13 radar sensor, display, and mission parameters on operator tactical target acquisition. A saturated fractional-factorial screening design was employed to examine these parameters. Data analysis computed ETA squared values for main and second-order effects for the variables tested. Ranking of the research parameters in terms of importance to system design revealed four variables (radar coverage, radar resolution/multiple looks, display resolution, and display size) accounted for 50 percent of the target acquisition probability variance.
Hershberger, M. L.↗
Eliminating Clutter in Synthetic-Aperture Radar
Diffusion technique reduces clutter noise in coherent SAR (synthetic-aperature radar) image signal without degrading its resolution. Technique makes radar-mapped terrain features more obvious.It also has potential application in holographic microscopy.
Jain, A.↗
Azimuth Correlator for Synthetic Aperture Radar
Azimuth correlation simulates large antenna aperature. It uses charge-coupled-device (CCD) technology to simplify complex, digital, signal-improvement process. In aircraft or spacecraft, correlator processes images onboard and in real time to simplify transmission to ground stations.
Arens, W. E.↗
Azimuth correlator for real-time synthetic aperture radar image processing
An azimuth correlator architecture is defined wherein a number of serial range-line buffer memories are cascaded such that the output stages of all buffer memories together form a complete and unique range bin in the azimuthal dimension at any given time. A range bin is automatically read out of the last stages of the registers in parallel on a range line sample-by-sample basis for subsequent range migration correction and correlation. Range migration correction is performed on the range bins by effectively varying the length of a delay register at the output of each range-line buffer memory. The corrected range bin output from the delay registers is then correlated with a Doppler reference function to form an image element on a real-time basis.
Arens, W. E.↗
Far-field radiation patterns of aperture antennas by the Winograd Fourier transform algorithm
A more time-efficient algorithm for computing the discrete Fourier transform, the Winograd Fourier transform (WFT), is described. The WFT algorithm is compared with other transform algorithms. Results indicate that the WFT algorithm in antenna analysis appears to be a very successful application. Significant savings in cpu time will improve the computer turn around time and circumvent the need to resort to weekend runs.
Heisler, R.↗
Synthetic Aperture Radar Technology Conference, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N. Mex., March 8-10, 1978, Proceedings
The following aspects of SAR development are discussed: calibration techniques, image simulation and interpretability, antennas, data processing, and system design. Papers are presented on such topics as a postlaunch calibration experiment for the Seasat-A SAR, computer simulation of an orbital SAR system, definition study of the Shuttle Imaging Radar, custom LSI circuits for spaceborne SAR processors, and random sampling adaptively focusing SAR.
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Real-time synthetic aperture radar data processing for space applications
Range and azimuth correlation in the time domain using current state-of-the-art CCD LSI technology provides a potentially practical means of achieving real-time pipeline processing of SAR images for future space missions. The proposed range correlator approach, using already demonstrated CCD transversal filtering techniques, will require very little power: less than 10 watts per Seasat-type 20-km processing module. The azimuth correlator architecture is considerably more demanding since it requires a large number of parallel chips (1020 for a Seasat-type 20-km module) to achieve a real-time processing capability.
Arens, W. E.↗
Mapping of sea ice and measurement of its drift using aircraft synthetic aperture radar images
Side-looking radar images of Arctic sea ice were obtained as part of the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment. Repetitive coverages of a test site in the Arctic were used to measure sea ice drift, employing single images and blocks of overlapping radar image strips; the images were used in conjunction with data from the aircraft inertial navigation and altimeter. Also, independently measured, accurate positions of a number of ground control points were available. Initial tests of the method were carried out with repeated coverages of a land area on the Alaska coast (Prudhoe). Absolute accuracies achieved were essentially limited by the accuracy of the inertial navigation data. Errors of drift measurements were found to be about + or - 2.5 km. Relative accuracy is higher; its limits are set by the radar image geometry and the definition of identical features in sequential images. The drift of adjacent ice features with respect to one another could be determined with errors of less than + or - 0.2 km.
Leberl, F.↗
Imaging performance of annular apertures. III - Apodization and modulation transfer functions
Apodization functions with decreasing transmission and their opposite, functions with increasing transmission, are investigated for various central obstruction ratios. The resultant modulation transfer functions are presented for various transmission functions and central obstruction ratios. Conclusions applicable to the improvement of imaging performance are discussed.
Tschunko, H. F. A.↗
VLSI system for synthetic aperture radar /SAR/ processing
The paper discusses an SAR problem based on actual requirements set forth by NASA for a spaceborne application. The requirements for high resolution and high quality necessitate a data sampling rate of 7.5 MHz. For each data value 1,025 4-bit complex multiply + add operations are needed, which is equivalent to 7.7 GHz complex multiply + add operation rate. Since this rate is much too high for general purpose systems, a special-purpose device was sought. This paper discusses two architectures based on parallel operation of 1,025 identical cells, each of which is capable of performing arithmetic, storage, and several control operations. The operation rate in each device is only 7.5 MHz, which is quite manageable, especially with the help of a substantial degree of pipelining. A computational-mathematical analysis is used as a primary tool for evaluating the design and some of its tradeoffs. Two different approaches are discussed and compared; both are based on having 1,025 identical cells working in parallel, but differ in their dual approaches to the flow of data.
Cohen, D.↗
Flow through axially aligned sequential apertures of the orifice and Borda types
Choked flow rate and pressure profile data were obtained and studied for two axially aligned sequential configurations consisting of four Borda type inlets of 1.9 1/D with two separation distances of 0.8 and 30 diameters and four orifice type inlets of 0.5 1/D with two separation distances of 0.66 and 32 diameters. Data were obtained using fluid nitrogen over the reduced inlet temperature and pressure range 0.68 T/T sub c gas and P/P sub c to 2. A flow coefficient reduced temperature plot can be used to represent the flow rate data for each geometry. At the larger separation distances, the pressure profiles dropped sharply at the entrance and partially recovered within each of the Borda and orifice inlet configurations; the exception being the last inlet where at low entrance temperatures, fluid jetting could occur. For the smaller spacings fluid jetting was prevalent throughout each of the inlet configurations at lower inlet temperatures. These results are in qualitative agreement with data of tubes with single Borda or sharp edge orifice type inlets to 105 1/D and water flow visualization studies.
Hendricks, R. C.↗
Some flow phenomena associated with aligned, sequential apertures with Borda-type inlets
Choked flow rate and pressure profile data were taken and studied for a configuration consisting of four axially aligned, sequential Borda tubes of 1.9 length diameter ratio with separation distances of 0.8 and 30 tube diameters. For either case the flow rate data could be represented by a flow coefficient reduced temperature plot. At a separation distance of 30 tube diameters the pressure profiles dropped sharply at the entrance and recovered within each Borda tube; except at low temperatures, where fluid jetting through the last Borda tube occurred. At a separation distance of 0.8 tube jetting was prevalent, and application of a significant backpressure did not alter the jetting. These results agree with other data for tubes with Borda or sharp edge orifice inlets and with a water flow visualization study reported herein.
Hendericks, R. C.↗
Baseband signal combiner for large aperture antenna array
The invention provides a means whereby the baseband output signals of all but one of the receivers associated with each of the antennas are summed and used as a correlation reference for the baseband signal not contained in the summed signal, thereby providing a plurality of correlation or alignment loops, each having an output signal related to the phase difference between its input baseband signal and the summed signal. The invention further provides a means for subtracting an output or error signal generated in one of the correlation loops whose baseband signal has a predetermined phase delay from all the other alignment loops, thereby avoiding interaction and reflection effects in the signal combiner. A variable phase delay means for each of the other baseband signals is controlled by its corresponding correlation loop.
Easterling, M. E.↗
Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar for imaging sea ice
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Barath, F. T.↗