A novel algorithm for reconstructing three-dimensional target shapes using sequential radar images

Abstract

Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) is one of the radar techniques used to observe two dimensional images of a remotely based target using radio waves. Since the "cross range" vector is ambiguous, estimating the three-dimensional shape of the target is difficult. However, it is possible to estimate the three-dimensional shape using moving pictures taken by a video camera, if the relative movement between the camera and the target is known. In this paper we propose an algorithm for reconstructing three-dimensional shape of the target by applying a similar technique to the ISAR images. The theory and the required condition of the proposed method are described and some results obtained by the computer simulations are shown.