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Target support interaction terms often drive Radar Cross Section Measurement limitations. These limitations are when mask needed information, or render interpretation difficult. Although support improvement is desirable and studied, there is a fundamental problem. Perhaps we can create a support that is 10 dB better than existing supports. The technology producing that improvement will usually be applicable to targets. Result: The same ratios recur. Modern instrumentation Radar possesses many acquisition agility's. Processing power currently available permits handling huge volumes of data. This paper studies evaluation and/or elimination of interaction terms using these agility's. Interactions within the test article are often significant. Controlled of this method would select and retain, or remove the terms.
Coherent background subtraction is an established method of reducing additive range clutter in radar cross section measurements. In some measurement situations, it is neither practical nor convenient to directly make a coherent measurement of the range background. The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan has devel oped two methods of synthesizing background measure ments for the coherent subtraction of additive clutter in these cases. The first method synthesizes a background for measurements of pylon-supported targets by remov ing unterminated pylon returns using software gating. The second method improves background subtraction by compensating for phase drift between target and back ground measurements. In this paper, these methods of improving the performance and utility of background subtraction will be described and demonstrated on mea sured data.
Coherent background subtraction is an established method of reducing additive range clutter in radar cross section measurements. In some measurement situations, it is neither practical nor convenient to directly make a coherent measurement of the range background. The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan has devel oped two methods of synthesizing background measure ments for the coherent subtraction of additive clutter in these cases. The first method synthesizes a background for measurements of pylon-supported targets by remov ing unterminated pylon returns using software gating. The second method improves background subtraction by compensating for phase drift between target and back ground measurements. In this paper, these methods of improving the performance and utility of background subtraction will be described and demonstrated on mea sured data.
An increasingly important and mature part of modem antenna measurements are the phaseless antenna measurement techniques. The subsequent required processing for retrieving the phase is known as the phase retrieval problem. This paper discusses recent investigations of phaseless near-field measurements using the UCLA bi-polar planar near-field antenna measurement system. A phase retrieval algorithm particularly suited for the bi-polar planar near-field measurement technique is presented. This algorithm employs both squared amplitude optimal sampling interpolation (OSI) and iterative Fourier techniques. Notable features of the algorithm include both single and dual measurement plane retrieval options and the utilization of both aperture (object) and measured data constraints. Measurement results will be presented and compared to results obtained using both the measured amplitude and phase data. In addition, an initial comparative assessment of the single and dual measurement plane retrieval techniques will be given.
An increasingly important and mature part of modem antenna measurements are the phaseless antenna measurement techniques. The subsequent required processing for retrieving the phase is known as the phase retrieval problem. This paper discusses recent investigations of phaseless near-field measurements using the UCLA bi-polar planar near-field antenna measurement system. A phase retrieval algorithm particularly suited for the bi-polar planar near-field measurement technique is presented. This algorithm employs both squared amplitude optimal sampling interpolation (OSI) and iterative Fourier techniques. Notable features of the algorithm include both single and dual measurement plane retrieval options and the utilization of both aperture (object) and measured data constraints. Measurement results will be presented and compared to results obtained using both the measured amplitude and phase data. In addition, an initial comparative assessment of the single and dual measurement plane retrieval techniques will be given.
An alternative technique for collecting the cylindrical near-field data is suggested here. The linear axis is scanned with the antenna under test rotating simultaneously. This results in the near-field data being collected along non-vertical lines. The near-field data over a rectangular grid are calculated by multiplying the spectrum of the near-field along a circular cuts by a factor that produces the desired shift in the location of the data samples. A software package was developed to simulate the cylindrical near-field measurements and was used to test this technique. The software was used to produce simulated near-field data of a rectangular array of dipoles. The technique was applied to simulated data of non-vertical scan and compared to simulated data on vertical scan. The near-field was reconstructed on vertical scan from non-vertical simulated measurement data. For each field component, the peak error was better than -70 dB relative to the peak field level.
An alternative technique for collecting the cylindrical near-field data is suggested here. The linear axis is scanned with the antenna under test rotating simultaneously. This results in the near-field data being collected along non-vertical lines. The near-field data over a rectangular grid are calculated by multiplying the spectrum of the near-field along a circular cuts by a factor that produces the desired shift in the location of the data samples. A software package was developed to simulate the cylindrical near-field measurements and was used to test this technique. The software was used to produce simulated near-field data of a rectangular array of dipoles. The technique was applied to simulated data of non-vertical scan and compared to simulated data on vertical scan. The near-field was reconstructed on vertical scan from non-vertical simulated measurement data. For each field component, the peak error was better than -70 dB relative to the peak field level.
This paper reports on the results of computer simulations of planar near-field scanning and its ability to achieve an high accuracy test-zone field over a wide range of pattern angles. An quality test-zone field was defined for this study to have less than 0.2 dB peak-to-peak amplitude variation and less than 1.5 peak-topeak phase variation. This investigation sought the minimum scan length, for a given critical angle, ec and separation, S. The minimum scan length determined from this investigation is given by: L = D + 2S(tan(0c)) + 20/cos(0c). This scan length is approximately 60),, larger, for a critical angle of 70 degrees, than previously accepted. It is suggested that the maximum practical value of Sc is between 60 and 70 degrees. The use of raised cosine amplitude and/or quadratic phase windows to the edges of the measurement plane is shown to provide test-zone field quality improvement and/or allow scan lengths approximately 10),, smaller.
This paper reports on the results of computer simulations of planar near-field scanning and its ability to achieve an high accuracy test-zone field over a wide range of pattern angles. An quality test-zone field was defined for this study to have less than 0.2 dB peak-to-peak amplitude variation and less than 1.5 peak-topeak phase variation. This investigation sought the minimum scan length, for a given critical angle, ec and separation, S. The minimum scan length determined from this investigation is given by: L = D + 2S(tan(0c)) + 20/cos(0c). This scan length is approximately 60),, larger, for a critical angle of 70 degrees, than previously accepted. It is suggested that the maximum practical value of Sc is between 60 and 70 degrees. The use of raised cosine amplitude and/or quadratic phase windows to the edges of the measurement plane is shown to provide test-zone field quality improvement and/or allow scan lengths approximately 10),, smaller.
Both Near-field Antenna Measurement Technology and Beam Waveguide Antenna techology have been in existence for some time. This paper describes a measurement combining both of these technologies. During an internal study of beam waveguide implementation, a near-field antenna measurement was made of a development model. The model and techniques of measurement are described herein.
Both Near-field Antenna Measurement Technology and Beam Waveguide Antenna techology have been in existence for some time. This paper describes a measurement combining both of these technologies. During an internal study of beam waveguide implementation, a near-field antenna measurement was made of a development model. The model and techniques of measurement are described herein.
This paper examines the possibility of increasing the speed of Near-Field measurement of an Antenna, by reducing the number of measurement points and by determining the degree of truncation permissible while maintaining a prescribed degree of precision of the reconstructed far-field. The Near-Field of a planar radiating array is analysed in depth. A formulation and a procedure to correct the spectral domain of the field are established. It is shown that correction in the spectral domain can improve the accuracy of the Far-Field while using the same amount of Near-Field data. The technique has a good potential to be applied to Near Field data of large radiating Antennas leading to new information about the accuracy and speed of measurement achievable.
This paper examines the possibility of increasing the speed of Near-Field measurement of an Antenna, by reducing the number of measurement points and by determining the degree of truncation permissible while maintaining a prescribed degree of precision of the reconstructed far-field. The Near-Field of a planar radiating array is analysed in depth. A formulation and a procedure to correct the spectral domain of the field are established. It is shown that correction in the spectral domain can improve the accuracy of the Far-Field while using the same amount of Near-Field data. The technique has a good potential to be applied to Near Field data of large radiating Antennas leading to new information about the accuracy and speed of measurement achievable.
Forming radar images from large fractional bandwidth data can often lead to unusual artifacts or resolutions degraded from "expected" theoretical point-target values. The frequency dependencies of typical scatter ing mechanisms, such as diffractions, surface waves and speculars, can be significant over processing apertures when data are collected using large fractional bandwidth measurement systems. For example, it is well known that resonant scatterers exhibit blurring in the downrange direction of an image. Other scattering mechanisms have linear or quadratic amplitude dependencies which can also alter the impulse response from that of an ideal point scatterer. This paper will first provide a brief description of the frequency dependencies of various scattering mechanisms. The paper will then describe the corresponding effects seen in the impulse response, primarily in the range profile domain. Impulse response plots will be compared for data with large and small fractional bandwidths. Lastly, the effects of frequency dependent scattering on the impulse response will be shown using images generated from data collected in indoor compact ranges.
Forming radar images from large fractional bandwidth data can often lead to unusual artifacts or resolutions degraded from "expected" theoretical point-target values. The frequency dependencies of typical scatter ing mechanisms, such as diffractions, surface waves and speculars, can be significant over processing apertures when data are collected using large fractional bandwidth measurement systems. For example, it is well known that resonant scatterers exhibit blurring in the downrange direction of an image. Other scattering mechanisms have linear or quadratic amplitude dependencies which can also alter the impulse response from that of an ideal point scatterer. This paper will first provide a brief description of the frequency dependencies of various scattering mechanisms. The paper will then describe the corresponding effects seen in the impulse response, primarily in the range profile domain. Impulse response plots will be compared for data with large and small fractional bandwidths. Lastly, the effects of frequency dependent scattering on the impulse response will be shown using images generated from data collected in indoor compact ranges.
At high frequencies, the scattered fields from a radar target can be modeled as a sum of contri butions from a finite number of scattering centers. We use a parametric model based on the Geometric Theory of Diffraction (GTD) to estimate the location and type of scattering centers present in a frequency domain data set. The parameters of the model are estimated using a modified MUSIC algorithm that incorporates the GTD model. A new spatial smoothing algorithm is also introduced.
At high frequencies, the scattered fields from a radar target can be modeled as a sum of contri butions from a finite number of scattering centers. We use a parametric model based on the Geometric Theory of Diffraction (GTD) to estimate the location and type of scattering centers present in a frequency domain data set. The parameters of the model are estimated using a modified MUSIC algorithm that incorporates the GTD model. A new spatial smoothing algorithm is also introduced.
Several approaches are known for the identification of noncooperative air-borne targets with radar. Assuming that the tar get can be tracked during a certain flight path, observations from different aspect angles will be obtained. High-resolution radar (HRR) systems use these observations to create one-dimensional range profiles. With Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) the data from all observed aspect angles are combined to obtain two-dimensional images. In recent years, techniques for resolution enhancement have been developed for both techniques. The choice for one of the two approaches should depend on the applicability of the target representation for identification. ISAR is the most suitable for reproduction on a display and identification by human observers. In case of identification by a machine, for example an algorithm on a computer, the choice is not straight forward. In this paper an overview of the influence of several errors on the performance of HRR and ISAR will be given. The error sources that will be evaluated are: • uncertainty of the absolute distance of the target; • errors in the mutual alignment of observations; • additive noise. The errors are generated numerically and applied to data from simulations and low-noise measurements. The influence of the bandwidth and angular span on the quality of the target reconstruction will be regarded as well as the performance of some high-resolution techniques. Finally, conclusions are drawn concerning the applicability of ISAR and HRR.
Several approaches are known for the identification of noncooperative air-borne targets with radar. Assuming that the tar get can be tracked during a certain flight path, observations from different aspect angles will be obtained. High-resolution radar (HRR) systems use these observations to create one-dimensional range profiles. With Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) the data from all observed aspect angles are combined to obtain two-dimensional images. In recent years, techniques for resolution enhancement have been developed for both techniques. The choice for one of the two approaches should depend on the applicability of the target representation for identification. ISAR is the most suitable for reproduction on a display and identification by human observers. In case of identification by a machine, for example an algorithm on a computer, the choice is not straight forward. In this paper an overview of the influence of several errors on the performance of HRR and ISAR will be given. The error sources that will be evaluated are: • uncertainty of the absolute distance of the target; • errors in the mutual alignment of observations; • additive noise. The errors are generated numerically and applied to data from simulations and low-noise measurements. The influence of the bandwidth and angular span on the quality of the target reconstruction will be regarded as well as the performance of some high-resolution techniques. Finally, conclusions are drawn concerning the applicability of ISAR and HRR.
Image editing, a post measurement data processing technique, is an established method for the identification and reduction of non-target measurement artifacts like the target support system. The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan has applied this technique to data collected at the OSU "BIG EAR" VHF-UHF wideband compact range in order to remove or reduce target sup port interference and to extract selected target feature contributions to the RCS. In this paper, the application of the method to some BIG EAR measurements data is described and examples are shown which demonstrate the improvement in data quality and usability afforded by support contamination reduction and feature extraction techniques.