A novel trajectory restoration algorithm for high-resolution SAR imaging

The quality of high-resolution SAR imaging is strictly related with the precision of the platform trajectory measurements. This is one of the crucial points in the case of image formation from light-weight aircrafts and UAV platforms, which undergone significant trajectory instabilities in real flight conditions. In the paper, a new approach for the residual range-dependent phase error restoration is proposed. According to the method, the cross-track aircraft accelerations are evaluated via a specifically developed weighted estimation procedure. The reconstructed residual trajectory deviations are used for the range-dependent motion errors compensation. The corresponding experimental results are also demonstrated.