Bearing Angle Estimation Based On Synthetic Aperture Radar (Sar) Image

The bearing angle between the sensor and the area imaged could be estimated based on the high resolution image obtained by Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Using the raytracing method for SAR image simulations for a 3D target model, two estimation methods are proposed for calculating the bearing angle according to the provided SAR images: (1) single-line detection in image, and (2) whole-image analysis. The SAR images are derived through the raytracing aided simulator of a time division multiple access (TDMA) MIMO SAR system with 13 transmitting antennas and 8 receiving antennas. Assuming the true bearing angles range from -10 degrees to 10 degrees, the estimation results along with the error analysis are presented. The root mean square error (RMSE) value varies with different threshold settings; however, on average, an RMSE less than 1.6 degrees could be achieved in most circumstances. The SAR image-based bearing angle detection methods presented could enhance methods f or data exploitation, information fusion, and decision management for remote sensing applications.