Computer Simulation of Synthetic Aperture Radar Images of Three-Dimensional Objects

A digital simulation of coherent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of three-dimensional objects is described. The simulation is intended to produce representative SAR images that would be suitable for image analysis and pattern recognition studies. The procedure involves a modeling of the object using a combination of three-dimensional quadratic shapes yielding a smooth surface representation. The radar images of these models are then computed using physical optics scattering theory. Finite resolution both in range and cross-range direction is incorporated via a theoretical analysis which results in a simple Fourier transform representation of an equivalent "offset" window filter. Examples of the computer simulation for both infinite resolution and blurred or finite resolution are given for a KC-135 aircraft model.