System and method for processing radar imagery
First Claim
1. A method of detecting movement parameters of a ground based target by processing first and a second temporal sequences of returns from a Synthetic Aperture system, each sequence collected during separate imaging passes, the returns comprising a plurality of synthetic aperture base images of a region comprising the steps of:
- i) pairing an image in the second temporal sequence with a corresponding primary image from the first temporal sequence, aligning the images if required and forming a coherent change detection (CCD) image, and repeating for each pair to produce a plurality of CCD base images;
ii) forming a reference image from one or more of the CCD base images;
iii) forming an “
incoherent change detection”
(ICD) image by normalising the reference image with a suitably aligned, predetermined CCD base image from the sequence;
iv) analyzing the ICD image to detect a track left by the ground based target; and
v) detecting the ground based target by producing one or more focused images by manipulating phases of the temporal returns according to motion parameters estimated from the track of the ground based target.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for processing imagery, such as may be derived from a coherent imaging system e.g. a synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The system processes sequences of SAR images of a region taken in at least two different passes and generates Coherent Change Detection (CCD) base images from corresponding images of each pass. A reference image is formed from one or more of the CCD base images images, and an incoherent change detection image formed by comparison between a given CCD base image and the reference image. The technique is able to detect targets from tracks left in soft ground, or from shadow areas caused by vehicles, and so does not rely on a reflection directly from the target itself. The technique may be implemented on data recorded in real time, or may be done in post-processing on a suitable computer system.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of detecting movement parameters of a ground based target by processing first and a second temporal sequences of returns from a Synthetic Aperture system, each sequence collected during separate imaging passes, the returns comprising a plurality of synthetic aperture base images of a region comprising the steps of:
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i) pairing an image in the second temporal sequence with a corresponding primary image from the first temporal sequence, aligning the images if required and forming a coherent change detection (CCD) image, and repeating for each pair to produce a plurality of CCD base images; ii) forming a reference image from one or more of the CCD base images; iii) forming an “
incoherent change detection”
(ICD) image by normalising the reference image with a suitably aligned, predetermined CCD base image from the sequence;iv) analyzing the ICD image to detect a track left by the ground based target; and v) detecting the ground based target by producing one or more focused images by manipulating phases of the temporal returns according to motion parameters estimated from the track of the ground based target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. A processing system for the detection of movement parameters of a target, the processing system processing returns from a Synthetic Aperture system, comprising a processor adapted to receive data from the synthetic aperture system, the data comprising image information from two independent imaging passes of the same scene, the image information comprising a plurality of synthetic aperture images from each pass of the scene, the processing system comprising a processor adapted to process the data in the form of synthetic aperture images from the two independent imaging passes and, pairing primary and repeat pass images for the same geometries, to produce a coherent change detection (CCD) image for each pairing, so generating a plurality of CCD base images;
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wherein; the processor is adapted to form a reference image from one or more of the CCD base images, the one or more CCD base images being suitably spatially aligned with respect to each other; and the processor is further adapted to normalise the reference image with a given CCD base image to form an associated incoherent change detection image, the given CCD base image being suitably aligned with the reference image; the processor being further adapted to analyze one or more incoherent change detection images to detect a track left by the target on the ground, and to locate the target by producing one or more focused images by manipulating phases of the temporal returns according to motion parameters estimated from the track of the target. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A processing system as claimed in 10 wherein the processing system is adapted to obtained focused images based upon a shadow of a moving target.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeQinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
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Original AssigneeQinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
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InventorsJahangir, Mohammed, Kealey, Paul Graham, Moate, Christopher Paul, Hill, Robert David
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Primary Examiner(s)Chu, Randolph I
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Application NumberUS13/139,882Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,742 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current382/103CPC Class CodesG01S 13/9023 combined with interferometr...G01S 13/9029 specially adapted for movin...
