Adaptive Resolution Imaging Algorithm for Helicopter-Borne Arc Antenna Array Based on Grid Layout Optimization

The imaging of arc array radar is complicated due to its special structure. Backward projection (BP) is a high-resolution imaging algorithm, which can solve the coupling problem of range and azimuth in the arc antenna array SAR imaging. However, BP algorithm has huge computation and nonuniform image resolution distribution in the imaging of arc array antenna radar. In this paper, an improved BP algorithm for arc antenna array imaging is studied. By redesigning and optimizing the grid layout, the image resolution balance in the arc imaging region can be achieved, and the grid layout can be adjusted according to the required image resolution adaptively. The computation of the algorithm before and after adaptive adjustment are analyzed and compared, which shows the computation of the improved algorithm is reduced significantly. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation.