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Full-Text Articles in Signal Processing

Theory And Design Of A Highly Compressed Dropped-Channel Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar, John T. Becker Jun 2022

Theory And Design Of A Highly Compressed Dropped-Channel Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar, John T. Becker

Theses and Dissertations

Compressed sensing (CS) is a recent mathematical technique that leverages the sparsity in certain sets of data to solve an underdetermined system and recover a full set of data from a sub-Nyquist set of measurements of the data. Given the size and sparsity of the data, radar has been a natural choice to apply compressed sensing to, typically in the fast-time and slow-time domains. Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) generates a particularly large amount of data for a given scene; however, the data tends to be sparse. Recently a technique was developed to recover a dropped PolSAR channel by leveraging …


Effects Of Motion Measurement Errors On Radar Target Detection, Darnell D. Parker Jun 2022

Effects Of Motion Measurement Errors On Radar Target Detection, Darnell D. Parker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the relationships present between signal-to-clutter ratios, motion measurement errors, image quality metrics, and the task of target detection, in order to discover what factor merit greater focus in order to attain the highest probability of target detection success. This investigation is accomplished by running a high number of Monte Carlo trials through a coherent target detector and analyzing the results. The aforementioned relationships are demonstrated via sample synthetic aperture radar imagery, histograms, receiver operating characteristics curves, and error bar plots.


Polarization-Based Image Segmentation And Height Estimation For Interferometric Sar, Augusta J. Vande Hey Jun 2022

Polarization-Based Image Segmentation And Height Estimation For Interferometric Sar, Augusta J. Vande Hey

Theses and Dissertations

To find scatterers in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image, a modification is proposed to improve peak region segmentation (PRS) with region merging. The modification considers the polarization of each pixel before it is added to a segment to ensure the segment only contains pixels of the same polarization. Prior to region merging, the polarization of the segments is compared, so that only segments with the same polarization are merged into a single region. The segmented regions are used to find the height of each scatterer through interferometric SAR (IFSAR) processing. Multiple methods of IFSAR are examined to find the …


Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Recognition Of Armored Vehicles, Christopher Szul [*], Torrey J. Wagner, Brent T. Langhals Jun 2021

Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Recognition Of Armored Vehicles, Christopher Szul [*], Torrey J. Wagner, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is not affected by weather and allows for day-and-night observations, however it can be difficult to interpret. This work applies classical and neural network machine learning techniques to perform image classification of SAR imagery. The Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition dataset from the Air Force Research Laboratory was used, which contained 2,987 total observations of the BMP-2, BTR-70, and T-72 vehicles. Using a 75%/25% train/test split, the classical model achieved an average multi-class image recognition accuracy of 70%, while a convolutional neural network was able to achieve a 97% accuracy with lower model …


Sar Collection Planning And Data Quality Assessment, Jacob M. Brumfield Jun 2021

Sar Collection Planning And Data Quality Assessment, Jacob M. Brumfield

Theses and Dissertations

Radar resource management is an important research topic in the radar community. Identifying the performance of a synthetic aperture radar image early into a data processing chain can improve intelligence collection mission performance. To achieve that goal, separate flags can be presented to a radar technician along a data processing chain to identify various errors within a data collection. Toward the end, this thesis analyzes he radar image processing chain and identifies data quality checks that could be implemented. The first quality check is to identify canonical targets and the necessary Nyquist-Shannon sampling requirements. Then, observations can be made to …


Chaos-Based Coffee Can Radar System, Conor Willsie, Rong Chen May 2021

Chaos-Based Coffee Can Radar System, Conor Willsie, Rong Chen

Honors Theses

Linear frequency modulated (LFM) radar systems are simple and easy to implement, making them ideal for inexpensive undergraduate research projects. Unfortunately, LFM radar schemes have multiple limitations that make them unviable in many real-world applications. Given the limitations of LFM radar systems, we propose a chaos-based frequency modulated (CBFM) system. In this paper, we present the theory, design, and experimental verification of a CBFM radar system that has both ranging and synthetic aperture radar imaging capabilities. The performance of our CBFM system is compared to that of the LFM system designed by MIT. We document many challenges and unforeseen obstacles …


Target Detection In Heterogeneous Clutter With Low Resolution Radar, Kyle G. Stankowski Sep 2019

Target Detection In Heterogeneous Clutter With Low Resolution Radar, Kyle G. Stankowski

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops a framework for SAR target detection and super-resolution in low-resolution environments. The primary focus in this research is the background clutter heterogeneity that often accompanies low range and cross-range resolutions. A corrective model which accounts for clutter replacement is developed to define the detection and false alarm rates of the detector more accurately than a traditional model in which the radar return from the target supplements the existing clutter. In a heterogeneous clutter cell, the clutter replacement model leverages the different scattering distributions among the individual clutter types to generate a probability distribution function for the areas …


Implementation Of Range Autofocus For Sar Radar Imaging, Nicholas J. Testin, Philip Davis May 2017

Implementation Of Range Autofocus For Sar Radar Imaging, Nicholas J. Testin, Philip Davis

KSU Journey Honors College Capstones and Theses

The range calculation for an FMCW radar depends on accurate linear modulation. In some circumstances, linear modulation may not be available and must be corrected for. This paper describes an autofocus technique used to correct for phase error due to non-linearities in the components of a FMCW radar. Also described here is the algorithm used in calculating the phase error and application of the phase correction with triangle modulation. Known errors were calculated at certain distances and applied to correcting the phase of data taken at similar distances. The results given were generated using a SAR working outside linear ranges.


Hardware Development And Error Characterisation For The Afit Rail Sar System, Dayne A. Schmidt Mar 2016

Hardware Development And Error Characterisation For The Afit Rail Sar System, Dayne A. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This research is focussed on updating the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Radar Instrumentation Lab (RAIL) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) experimental system. Firstly, this research assesses current hardware limitations and updates the system configuration and methodology to enable collections from a receiver in motion. Secondly, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals are used to form (SAR) images in multiple experimental and simulation configurations. This research analyses, characterises and attempts compensation of relevant SAR image error sources, such as Doppler shift or motion measurement errors (MMEs). Error characterisation is conducted using theoretical, simulated and experimental methods. Final experimental results are presented …


The Effect Of Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Resolution On Target Discrimination, John E. Mcgowan Mar 2010

The Effect Of Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Resolution On Target Discrimination, John E. Mcgowan

Theses and Dissertations

This research details the effect of spatial resolution on target discrimination in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. Multiple SAR image chips containing targets and non-targets are used to test a baseline Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) system with reduced spatial resolution. Spatial resolution is reduced by lowering the pixel count or synthesizing a degraded image by filtering and reducing the pixel count. A two-parameter Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) detector is tested, and three feature sets, size, contrast, and texture, are used to train a linear classifier and to estimate probability density functions for the two classes. The results are scored …


Frequency Diversity For Improving Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging, Jawad L. Farooq Mar 2009

Frequency Diversity For Improving Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging, Jawad L. Farooq

Theses and Dissertations

In this work, a novel theoretical framework is presented for using recent advances in frequency diversity arrays (FDAs). Unlike a conventional array, the FDA simultaneously transmits a unique frequency from each element in the array. As a result, special time and space properties of the radiation pattern are exploited to improve cross-range resolution. The idealized FDA radiation pattern is compared with and validated against a full-wave electromagnetic solver, and it is shown that the conventional array is a special case of the FDA. A new signal model, based on the FDA, is used to simulate SAR imagery of ideal point …


Using Shadows To Detect Targets In Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery, Brian P. Donnell Mar 2009

Using Shadows To Detect Targets In Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery, Brian P. Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can generate high resolution imagery of re- mote scenes by combining the phase information of multiple radar pulses along a given path. SAR based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) has the advantage over optical ISR that it can provide usable imagery in adverse weather or nighttime conditions. Certain radar frequencies can even result in foliage or limited soil penetration, enabling imagery to be created of objects of interest that would otherwise be hidden from optical surveillance systems. This thesis demonstrates the capability of locating stationary targets of interest based on the locations of their shadows and …


Joint Image And Pupil Plane Reconstruction Algorithm Based On Bayesian Techniques, James D. Phillips Feb 2008

Joint Image And Pupil Plane Reconstruction Algorithm Based On Bayesian Techniques, James D. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was to develop an joint pupil and focal plane image recovery algorithm for use with coherent LADAR systems. The benefits of such a system would include increased resolution with little or no increase in system weight and volume as well as allowing for operation in the absence of natural light since the target of interest would be actively illuminated. Since a pupil plane collection aperture can be conformal, such a system would also potentially allow for the formation of large synthetic apertures. The system is demonstrated to be robust and in all but extreme cases …


The Effects Of Signal And Image Compression Of Sar Data On Change Detection Algorithms, Kiran Shenoy Sep 2007

The Effects Of Signal And Image Compression Of Sar Data On Change Detection Algorithms, Kiran Shenoy

Theses and Dissertations

With massive amounts of SAR imagery and data being collected, the need for effective compression techniques is growing. One of the most popular applications for remote sensing is change detection, which compares two geo-registered images for changes in the scene. While lossless compression is needed for signal compression, the same is not often required for image compression. In almost every case the compression ratios are much higher in lossy compression making them more appealing when bandwidth and storage becomes an issue. This research analyzes different types of compression techniques that are adapted for SAR imagery, and tests these techniques with …


Point Spread Function Characterization Of A Radially Displaced Scatterer Using Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar, Uttam K. Majumder Mar 2007

Point Spread Function Characterization Of A Radially Displaced Scatterer Using Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar, Uttam K. Majumder

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort investigated characterizing the point spread function (PSF) behavior of radially displaced point scatterers using circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR). Thus far, research has been conducted to understand PSF of a scatterer located at the imaging scene center. An analytic closed-form solution has been derived assuming the scatterer is located at the origin of the CSAR imaging geometry. However, it is difficult to derive an analytic PSF solution for a scatterer that is radially displaced from the imaging scene center. Using the back projection image formation algorithm, PSF responses are generated at various point target locations. Consistent with …


Verification Of A Decision Level Fusion Algorithm Using A Proven Atr System And Measured Sar Data, James Douglas Thompson Mar 2006

Verification Of A Decision Level Fusion Algorithm Using A Proven Atr System And Measured Sar Data, James Douglas Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Decision level fusion (DLF) algorithms combine outputs of multiple single sensors to make one confident declaration of a target. This research compares performance results of a DLF algorithm using measured data and a proven ATR system with results from simulated data and a modeled ATR system. This comparison indicates that DLF offers significant performance improvements over single sensor looks. However, results based on simulated data and a modeled ATR are slightly optimistic and overestimate results from measured data and a proven ATR system by nearly 10% over all targets tested.


Doppler Aliasing Reduction In Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Using Phase Modulated Random Stepped-Frequency Waveforms, Andrew W. Hyatt Mar 2006

Doppler Aliasing Reduction In Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Using Phase Modulated Random Stepped-Frequency Waveforms, Andrew W. Hyatt

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort examines the theory, application and results of side-looking airborne radar operation in hot clutter. Hot clutter is an electronic counter-measure used to degrade the performance of airborne radar. Hot clutter occurs by illuminating the ground with an airborne jammer at some velocity, azimuth, elevation, and range from the airborne radar. When the received RCS scattered hot clutter waveform is perfectly coherent with the radar waveform, the radar believes the returns created by the hot clutter jammer resulted from the transmitting radar. Hot clutter degrades radar performance at locations in azimuth and Doppler. The effect of hot clutter …


Wide-Angle Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar: Focused Image Formation And Aliasing Artifact Mitigation, Jonathan E. Luminati Jun 2005

Wide-Angle Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar: Focused Image Formation And Aliasing Artifact Mitigation, Jonathan E. Luminati

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional monostatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platforms force the user to choose between two image types: larger, low resolution images or smaller, high resolution images. Switching to a Wide-Angle Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (WAM-SAR) approach allows formation of large high-resolution images. Unfortunately, WAM-SAR suffers from two significant implementation problems. First, wavefront curvature effects, non-linear flight paths, and warped ground planes lead to image defocusing with traditional SAR processing methods. A new 3-D monostatic/bistatic image formation routine solves the defocusing problem, correcting for all relevant wide-angle effects. Inverse SAR (ISAR) imagery from a Radar Cross Section (RCS) chamber validates this approach. …


Doppler Aliasing Reduction In Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Using A Linear Frequency Modulated Random Stepped-Frequency Waveform, Jason R. Mcmahon Mar 2005

Doppler Aliasing Reduction In Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Using A Linear Frequency Modulated Random Stepped-Frequency Waveform, Jason R. Mcmahon

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the theory, application, and results of using Random Stepped-Frequency (RSF) waveforms to mitigate Doppler aliasing in a wide-angle Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging scenario. Severe Doppler aliasing typically occurs in this scenario since range extent requirements force the pulse repetition frequency to a value violating the lower bound for Doppler aliasing. Building on previous research, this work expands upon RSF waveform analysis using a Linear Frequency Modulated RSF (LFM-RSF) waveform. The RSF waveform suppresses Doppler aliasing by positioning nulls at the aliased scatterer location. Applying LFM with RSF processing theoretically provides greater frequency coverage and aliased scatterer …


Using Gps As A Reference System To Hit A Moving Target, Daryl J. Burnette Mar 2001

Using Gps As A Reference System To Hit A Moving Target, Daryl J. Burnette

Theses and Dissertations

The Affordable Moving Surface Target Engagement (AMSTE) project attempts to develop affordable solutions to the precise moving target surface target engagement problem. Up to this point, most of the error analysis performed for the AMSTE project has been at the error variance level, generating root-sum-square (RSS) total errors from error budgets consisting of constant error variances. In reality, the level of error for both Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning and radar targeting systems is highly dependent upon the given situation (such as the distance between sensor and target, the altitude differences, etc.) This research generates a more comprehensive model of …


An Objective Evaluation Of Four Sar Image Segmentation Algorithms, Jason B. Gregga Mar 2001

An Objective Evaluation Of Four Sar Image Segmentation Algorithms, Jason B. Gregga

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the large number of SAR images the Air Force generates and the dwindling number of available human analysts, automated methods must be developed. A key step towards automated SAR image analysis is image segmentation. There are many segmentation algorithms, but they have not been tested on a common set of images, and there are no standard test methods. This thesis evaluates four SAR image segmentation algorithms by running them on a common set of data and objectively comparing them to each other and to human segmentors. This objective comparison uses a multi-metric a approach with a set of …


Target Pose Estimation From Radar Data Using Adaptive Networks, Andrew W. Learn Mar 1999

Target Pose Estimation From Radar Data Using Adaptive Networks, Andrew W. Learn

Theses and Dissertations

his research investigates and extends recent work by J.C. Principe at the University of Florida in target pose estimation using adaptive networks. First, Principe's technique is successfully extended to estimate both azimuth and elevation using SAR images. A network trained and tested using MSTAR data yields mean errors of less than six degrees in azimuth and five degrees in elevation. Second, the technique is applied to high-range resolution radar (HRR) signatures. Ground target (azimuth only) testing yields mean errors of less than 11 degrees for most classes. Air target testing for networks trained and tested on the same aircraft class …


Application Of The Finite Element Method To The Scattering Of A Two-Dimensional, Semi-Infinite Periodic Structure, Perry N. Villanueva Mar 1999

Application Of The Finite Element Method To The Scattering Of A Two-Dimensional, Semi-Infinite Periodic Structure, Perry N. Villanueva

Theses and Dissertations

Infinite periodic structures have been studied heavily because of their efficient filtering capabilities. They generally exhibit sharp frequency roll-offs at the frequency band of interest. In the RF region of the electromagnetic spectrum, periodic structures find applications such as radomes and photonic bandgap materials. Most studies have been done with infinitely periodic arrays because it is convenient to collapse an infinite array into one representative period using Floquet Analysis. Truncating an infinite array introduces an edge and invalidates Floquet analysis over the entire array. This thesis formulates a Finite Element Method (FEM) solution of a semi-infinite periodic array consisting of …


A Dispersive Scattering Center, Parametric Model For 1-D Atr, Dane F. Fuller Dec 1997

A Dispersive Scattering Center, Parametric Model For 1-D Atr, Dane F. Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

The dispersive scattering center (DSC) model characterizes high-frequency backscatter from radar targets as a finite sum of localized scattering geometries distributed in range, these geometries, along with their relative locations, can be conveniently used as features in a one-dimensional automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm. The DSC model's type and range parameters correspond to geometry and distance features according to the geometric theory of diffraction (GTD). Since these parameters are estimated in the phase history domain of the radar signal, the range parameter does provide superresolution in the time domain. To demonstrate the viability of feature extraction based on the DSC …


Maximum Likelihood Estimation Of Exponentials In Unknown Colored Noise For Target In Identification Synthetic Aperture Radar Images, Matthew P. Pepin Oct 1996

Maximum Likelihood Estimation Of Exponentials In Unknown Colored Noise For Target In Identification Synthetic Aperture Radar Images, Matthew P. Pepin

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops techniques for estimating exponential signals in unknown colored noise. The Maximum Likelihood ML estimators of the exponential parameters are developed. Techniques are developed for one and two dimensional exponentials, for both the deterministic and stochastic ML model. The techniques are applied to Synthetic Aperture Radar SAR data whose point scatterers are modeled as damped exponentials. These estimated scatterer locations exponentials frequencies are potential features for model-based target recognition. The estimators developed in this dissertation may be applied with any parametrically modeled noise having a zero mean and a consistent estimator of the noise covariance matrix. ML techniques …


Three Dimensional Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging, Jack D. Pullis Dec 1995

Three Dimensional Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging, Jack D. Pullis

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the generation, display, and interpretation of three-dimensional (3-D) Synthetic Aperture Radar images. Three-dimensional assumes that the data collected consists of one temporal dimension and two orthogonal angular dimensions. From this data, a three dimensional reflectivity map, or 3-D image, of a target can be constructed. This thesis effort develops and applies a three-dimensional imaging algorithm on actual radar data measured on a one-third scale model of a C-29 aircraft. Two-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional image as well as three-dimensional isosurfaces are compared to the physical properties of the target. The results demonstrate the ability to produce three-dimensional …


Perceptual Based Image Fusion With Applications To Hyperspectral Image Data, Terry A. Wilson Dec 1994

Perceptual Based Image Fusion With Applications To Hyperspectral Image Data, Terry A. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Development of new imaging sensors has created a need for image processing techniques that can fuse images from different sensors or multiple images produced by the same sensor. The methods presented here focus on combining image data from the Airborne Visual and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) hyperspectral sensor into a single or smaller subset of images while maintaining the visual information necessary for human analysis. Three hierarchical multi-resolution image fusion techniques are implemented and tested using the AVIRIS image data and test images that contain various levels of correlated or uncorrelated noise. Two of the algorithms are published fusion methods …


Processing Of Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Signals For Detection Of Obscured Ground Targets, Richard J. Sumner Dec 1994

Processing Of Wide-Angle Synthetic Aperture Radar Signals For Detection Of Obscured Ground Targets, Richard J. Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates advanced processing techniques for the detection of radar targets in the presence of clutter. It is assumed that the radar data available consist of multi-aspect angle, fully polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. Various techniques are introduced and tested on available SAR data. These techniques attempt to exploit the multi-aspect angles in order to extract target characteristics not available in any single image. SAR images are manipulated in such a way to decrease the probability of false alarms in the target detection process. Target detection performance of the techniques is presented and compared. The techniques are shown …