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A back-projection autofocus algorithm based on flight trajectory optimization for synthetic aperture radar imaging

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Abstract

In this paper, a new autofocus algorithm is presented for back-projection (BP) image formation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. The approach is based on maximizing a cost function obtained by prominent points in different sub-apertures of constructed SAR image by varying the flight trajectory parameters. While image-quality-based autofocus approach together with BP algorithm can be computationally intensive, we use approximations that allow optimal corrections to be derived. The approach is applicable for focusing different signal processing algorithms by obtaining modified flight trajectory parameters. Different examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the new autofocus approach applied to the frequency modulated continuous wave mode SAR dataset.

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Acknowledgments

David G. Long at Brigham Young University (BYU) is gratefully acknowledged for the CASIE-09 data. The valuable comments of the anonymous reviewers obviously contributed to the improvement of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), 424, Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran

    Jamal Saeedi & Karim Faez

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  1. Jamal Saeedi
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  2. Karim Faez
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Correspondence to Karim Faez.

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Saeedi, J., Faez, K. A back-projection autofocus algorithm based on flight trajectory optimization for synthetic aperture radar imaging. Multidim Syst Sign Process 27, 411–431 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11045-014-0308-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11045-014-0308-1

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