Reconfigurable real-time optronic processor for altitude and look angle adaptability for ENVISAT/ASAR scene observation

This paper reviews the reconfiguration capabilities of a real time compact optronic SAR processor in order to adapt for changes in altitude and look angles of a SAR system in flight, either airborne or space-based. The optronic processor can be reconfigured instantaneously making it suitable for all application requiring real-time SAR imagery despite modification of flight and orbit parameters. Moreover the system can be fully calibrated during flight or in-orbit providing outstanding ruggedness to environmental constraints. SAR image sets may thus be produced immediately on-demand without bottleneck; that is, the optronic SAR processor processing rate is matched to the SAR system raw data generation rate. These capabilities, combined with the fine ground sampling distances in both azimuth and range directions could provide benefits for such applications as landslide and flood monitoring, snow and ice coverage, glacier monitoring and real-time onboard tracking of events.