Ground-Based MIMO-SAR Fast Imaging Algorithm Based on Geometric Transformation

Ground-based multiple-input multiple-output synthetic aperture radar (MIMO-SAR) is a new type of deformation monitoring sensor that has the advantages of no mechanical motion and fast echo acquisition. Ground-based MIMO-SAR can significantly improve the data rate of deformation monitoring. In this paper, a fast imaging algorithm tailored for ground-based MIMO-SAR data is proposed, which can be applied in both far-field and near-field scenarios. First, the phase center approximation error of the non-collinear array in the near field is analyzed. Then, a fast imaging algorithm based on geometric transformation for the coherent synthesis of subimages is put forward. The algorithm uses the geometric transformation to convert the subaperture imaging results into the full aperture coordinate system, which avoids the point-by-point interpolation calculation and further reduces the computational cost of the subimage coherent synthesis algorithm. Simulations and experiments show that the algorithm can achieve high-precision focusing imaging, and its operation efficiency is significantly improved compared with the algorithm based on interpolation.