Next Generation Solutions for Passive Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) and Improved Situational Awareness

Project Summary

Passive ISAR utilises existing transmitters such as TV, radio or satellite, and addresses the challenge of combining multichannel transmissions to enhance passive ISAR imaging performance. These systems can be deployed covertly to offer improved situational awareness to Special Forces practically anywhere, paving the way for development and commercialisation of next generation situational awareness solutions of benefit across Army, RAAF and RAN.

Project Outcomes

This project developed realistic simulation models for the proposed passive radar imaging method exploiting satellite digital video broadcasting signals, studied the research challenges arising from wideband processing due to guard bands between co-channel transponder signals, and proposed and demonstrated a novel solution to this problem based on compressive sensing providing much improved ISAR images.

A potential area for further research and development is low-cost and lightweight software defined radio platforms.

Project Value

$331,116

DIP Contribution

$149,450

Status

Completed Project

Project Lead

Prof Kutluyil Dogancay, University of South Australia

Collaborating Partners

Our Collaboration

2010

Prof Kutluyil Dogancay and Defence Science and Technology research scientist Dr James Palmer start discussions on passive sensing and localisation

2016

Dr James Palmer becomes co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silentium Defence

February-June 2016

University of South Australia and Defence Science and Technology's National Security and ISR Division research agreement: 'Sparse signal representation methods for high-resolution radar imaging'

2016-2017

University of South Australia and Defence Science and Technology National Security and ISR Division collaborative research agreement: 'Compressive sensing methods for high-resolution radar imaging'

2017-2018

University of South Australia and Defence Science and Technology National Security and ISR Division collaborative research agreement: 'Applications of compressive sensing techniques to radar target imaging'

ongoing

University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide collaborate in the field of radar signal processing through ‘shared’ higher degree by research students.

2017

Prof Moeness Amin from Villanova University (USA) visits Adelaide, holding the title of 2017 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Advanced (Defence) Science and Technology. Prof Dogancay had known Prof Moeness Amin through his professional activities in the international signal processing community.

Early 2018

Project secures DIP Funding

June 2018

DIP Project commences

June 2019

DIP project complete

2020

Lockheed Martin Australia Future Submarine R&D Work Package: 'Novel methods to integrate compressive sensing techniques'