A retrieval system from inverse synthetic aperture radar images: Application to radar target recognition
Résumé
This paper presents an approach to aircraft target recognition using Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) images. The goal of this work is to develop a robust algorithm to add Automated Target Recognition (ATR) capabilities to extract efficient feature vectors and ensure a comprehensive recognition process. In the first part on this paper, we used a database of ISAR images reconstructed from anechoic chamber simulations in order to extract efficient feature vectors. In the second part of this work, we proposed a recognition architecture to perform recognition tasks and provide a human operator with useful information for target recognition tasks. Several kinds of descriptor can be used to acquire information about target characteristics from radar signals and images. Indeed, a number of methods are currently used in automatic target recognition; notably based on ISAR imaging. However, target characteristic extraction from radar echoes remains a difficult task, and the methods are generally specific to either aircraft or ship recognition. In this work, we describe our approach to designing faster, more effective retrieval systems and a comprehensive architecture. Our approach uses global feature vectors for both ship and aircraft recognition. Firstly, the global feature vectors are described by two types of descriptor which have shown to be efficient in radar target recognition. The first type defines target shape obtained by watershed transformation, facilitating interpretation for the human operator. The second type of vector descriptor is based on so-called polar signatures, obtained using the polar mapping procedure. The latter are highly discriminative and thus significantly improve and facilitate target recognition, leading to greater precision and accuracy. Secondly, we describe the retrieval architecture suitable for the second type of vector descriptor, which checks invariance in relation to target rotation and scale. It is, in itself, more efficient and processing time at the retrieval step is reduced and controlled by the human operator. Finally, in order to validate our proposed feature vectors and architecture, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier will be implemented; the results of which will be tested and presented in the last section of this paper.