Distributed Microwave Radar Imaging for Echo Aliasing Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar imaging technologies, particularly millimeter-wave radars, struggle with high-resolution two-dimensional imaging and suffer from echo aliasing issues in side-view perception, leading to low imaging resolution and blind areas for observed targets.
Innovation Solution
A distributed microwave radar imaging method utilizing multiple radars at different heights to achieve complementary fusion of high and low-angle views, incorporating geometric deformation correction and interpolation to enhance imaging resolution, and splicing fused images to overcome echo aliasing and inconsistent resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radar imaging algorithms (RDA, RMA, BPA, FSA) are used in side-view observation mode, then radar imaging can be implemented, but echo aliasing occurs and imaging resolution is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension by deploying radars at different heights (vertical dimension) in addition to the horizontal arrangement. This multi-height configuration creates complementary high-angle and low-angle views, allowing the system to resolve echo aliasing that plagues conventional single-plane SAR imaging. The vertical dimension provides additional observation perspectives that break the symmetry causing aliasing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the imaging task by dividing it into high-angle imaging (from higher radars) and low-angle imaging (from lower radars). Each radar or radar group at a specific height performs imaging in its optimal angular range, and the results are fused together. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal performance zone, avoiding the aliasing problems that affect the entire field when using conventional algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If multiple radars at different heights are deployed to improve imaging resolution, then echo aliasing can be resolved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each radar unit multi-functional by enabling it to contribute to both high-angle and low-angle imaging depending on its height position and the target characteristics. The same radar hardware performs different imaging functions based on its deployment height, eliminating the need for completely separate radar systems for different imaging angles. This universality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the imaging results from multiple radars at different heights into a single fused image. By combining the complementary information from high-angle and low-angle views, the system achieves high-resolution imaging without requiring each individual radar to be overly complex. The fusion process integrates data from simpler radar units to produce the final high-quality image.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves imaging resolution by resolving echo aliasing and inconsistent resolution, enabling high-resolution imaging of targets with accurate length and height measurements, and providing detailed target features.
Implementation Method 1
A microwave radar (Microwave Radar) is a radar that works in a microwave band for detection, and the microwave band usually refers to frequency domain of 100 MHz to 200 GHz
Implementation Method 2
transmit a microwave detection signal to a target object, and then compare a received signal reflected from the target object with the transmitted detection signal
Implementation Method 3
a millimeter wave is an electromagnetic wave in frequency domain of 30 GHz to 300 GHz (a wavelength is 1 mm to 10 mm)
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a distributed microwave radar imaging method and apparatus. The method includes: obtaining a first echo signal received by a first microwave radar, where the first microwave radar is disposed at a first height (step 101a); obtaining a second echo signal received by a second microwave radar (step 101b), where the second microwave radar is disposed at a second height, and the first height is lower than the second height; determining a first radar imaging result image of a detected target based on the first echo signal (step 102a); determining a second radar imaging result image of the detected target based on the second echo signal (step 102b); fusing the first radar imaging result image and the second radar imaging result image to obtain a target fused image (step 103); and determining outline information of the detected target based on the target fused image (step 104). This method can realize high resolution imaging of the detected target as a whole.