Signal processing for target motion estimation and image formation in radar imaging of moving targets

Radar imaging of moving targets is often called ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar.) Imaging of moving targets generally consists of two separate tasks: Estimation and correction of target motion, and the explicit image formation. Both tasks must be implemented with great care, as it is the coherent processing of the received radar signal phase that makes imaging possible. Of the two tasks, the motion compensation is often most difficult, as many radar targets move in a complicated and fairly unpredictable manner. When the motion is complicated, the imaging step can be a challenge as well. The reason is that the target 3D-structure begins to matter, and projection plane effects may cause blurred images for even well designed ISAR processors.