Metal object detection using a forward-looking polarimetric ground penetrating radar

Ethan H.-Y. Chun; Cornell S. L. Chun

doi:10.1117/12.884463

19 May 2011 Metal object detection using a forward-looking polarimetric ground penetrating radar

Ethan H.-Y. Chun, Cornell S. L. Chun

Proceedings Volume 8049, Automatic Target Recognition XXI; 804908 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884463
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The usefulness of ground penetrating radar to detect landmines has been limited because of low signal-to-clutter ratios which result in high false alarm rates. We describe a method using polarimetric radar to measure the polarizability angle, the relative phase, and the target magnitude. These three independent quantities are directly related to target shape and dimensions and are invariant with respect to rotation about the sensor-to-target axis. We built a forward-looking polarimetric ground penetrating radar and used it to collect data on an automobile disk brake rotor on the surface of dry sand and buried 1 in under the surface of the sand. Measurements were made over a frequency range of 1.35-2.14 GHz. We also performed a computer simulation using the Method of Moments of a target roughly shaped like the rotor. For the simulation and the measured data, the target magnitude exhibited an interference patterns from scattering centers at the edges. The computer simulation revealed that a target has characteristic frequencies marking transitions from reflection being dominated by one polarization state to reflection being dominated by the orthogonal polarization state. For the rotor in uneven ground the characteristic frequencies were found at the maxima of the polarizability angle. At these particular frequencies, the relative phase changes sign. The characteristic frequencies may be useful as a target signature.

Citation Download Citation

Ethan H.-Y. Chun and Cornell S. L. Chun "Metal object detection using a forward-looking polarimetric ground penetrating radar", Proc. SPIE 8049, Automatic Target Recognition XXI, 804908 (19 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884463

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