Estimating Three-Dimensional Scattering Centers of a Target using High Resolution Techniques

In this paper, we present high resolution techniques for application in three-dimensional (3D) scattering center extraction for a radar backscattered signal. We propose a 3D pairing procedure, a new approach to estimate 3D scattering centers. This pairing procedure is more accurate and robust than the general criterion. 3D MEMP with the 3D pairing procedure first creates an autocorrelation matrix from radar backscattered field data samples. A matrix pencil method is then used to extract 3D scattering centers from the principal eigenvectors of the autocorrelation matrix. An autocorrelation matrix is constructed by the MSSP (modified spatial smoothing preprocessing) method. The observation matrix required for estimation of 3D scattering center locations is built using the sparse scanning order conception. In order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed technique, we use backscattered field data generated by ideal point scatterers.