Optical Processing of Rotating-Object Radar Data Using a Polar Recording Format

A new optical processing technique for producing fine resolution radar images of rotating objects has been investigated. The technique involves optically recording the radar data in an appropriate polar format to eliminate the usual image degradation caused by motion of object points through resolution cells. Experiments were performed in which X-band radar data from various test objects placed on a rotating platform were recorded on photographic film in a polar format and optically processed. The resulting imagery demonstrated the fine resolution and object-shape recognition capability afforded by the use of the polar recording format. The feasibility of using thermoplastic as a real- time storage medium for radar data was investigated. The thermoplastic data storage technique was shown to have sound potential for use in a real-time optical processing system for satellite imaging applications.