2015 3rd International Workshop on Compressed Sensing Theory and its Applications to Radar, Sonar, and Remote Sensing

(CoSeRa)

Compressed Sensing Radar New Concepts of

Incoherent Continuous Wave Transmissions
Filippo Biondi Italian Ministry of Defence Military Radio Frequency Agengy (MiRFA)
Piazza Renato Villoresi ROMA biopippoo@gmail.com
Abstract The most of the conventional SAR, ISAR or other
kind of high resolution radars are today based on Linear
Frequency Modulation (LFM) transmissions, where the range
resolution is directly proportional to the used radio-frequency
band and the pulse compression procedure is based on the
Matched Filter (MF) theory. This traditional approach can be
highly limited to the transmitted signal bandwidth, today
extremely dependent on the electromagnetic spectrum
availability. This paper demonstrates that incoherent
transmissions can be focused using the CS reconstruction
theory, erasing the need of a pulse compression stage, based on
MF, and a required receiver analog-to-digital conversion
bandwidth reduction. These kind of transmissions can be
useful for anti-jamming transmissions, needing lower power, if
compared between conventional based high resolution radars.

Index Terms Synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Compressed

Sensing (CS), Interior Point Methods (IPM), Digital
Wavelet Transform (DWT).

I. INTRODUCTION
AR is designed to obtain high resolution images of an
illuminated scene. A conventional SAR radar system,
transmits an electromagnetic wide-band pulse that, in
the most of the cases, can be a LFM or a pseudo-random
coded noise signal. The received echo is stored in memory
and post correlated using a MF [1]. Before storing the range
history, the physical signal is sampled at the Nyquist Rate
(NR) and a great amount of data can prematurely saturate
the on-board sensor storage memory. In [2] a new approach
to radar imaging based on the concept of CS has been
introduced. In CS, an incoherent linear projection is used to
acquire an efficient representation of a compressible signal
directly using just a few measurements [3]. The signal is
then reconstructed by solving an inverse problem, based on
the minimizing the 1 norm. This work can be performed
through Linear Programming (LP), Second Order Cone
Programming (SOCP) or maybe using greedy algorithms,
based on Matching Pursuit (MP). Random projection of an
electromagnetic physical signal can be performed sending to
the ground a Continuous Wave (CW) pseudo-noise signal
and collecting the scattered echoes, having an energy
according by the radar equation. The problem is that the
discretized time-frequency N by N plane grid has to be
constituted by a radar scattering environment, existing in a
sparse configuration. As indicated in [35], can be assumed
that a signal is dense in the observation domain and a sparse
version its result can be estimated by projecting the signal

978-1-4799-7420-7/15/$31.00 2015 IEEE

on the N-dimensional space =[ 1 , , N ] that

provides the following K-sparse representation:
i=K

x = n n .
i =1

(1)

Where the {n i }i {1,, N } are the index of each n

being one of the elements of the sparsity inducting basis and
the parameters { i } are the associated coefficients. The
above described model can be represented in the following
compact matrix representation:
x=
(2)
The CS theory shows that about K-random projections
contains enough information to reconstruct piece smooth
signals or mixed dense of spikes and smooth signals, that
can be realistically associated to the radar range profile. The
CS framework measures the projections v i = x , V i of the
signal in to an alternative set of basis functions {V i }i ,
called the measurement basis. In the present case this basis
does not provide sparse representation of the elements
{i }i and an incoherence of two basis are needed in
order to recover a large set of i from an alternative sized
of measurements {yi }i . This incoherence propriety
commonly holds many change of basis and includes also the
HAAR-DWT (HDWT), case that is treated in this paper [4].
The model recovers a consistent set of coefficients by
performing the CS optimization procedure. Summarizing
the problem, given a set of yM measurements
yi = x ,V i with the M number of random measurements
are concretely less than N dimensionality of the original
range vector. It is possible to recover the original signal
having the sparsest transform { i } that agrees with the
observed coefficients yi :
i

=argmin

s.t.
T T
M

y= where =V

(3)

and V=[ V 1 ,,V ] is the matrix representation of the

measurement basis, the so called sensing matrix. The new
matrix =V = [ i ,, N ] is the holographic base.
For this work the matrices that has been used to implement
the holographic model are: V constituted by random vectors
and constituted a matrix that performs the DWT of the
smooth signal and the two matrices works independently.
The original set of coefficients { i } are recovered by CS,
using a Log-Barrier Algorithm, where details are reported
in [5] where the CO problem, is solved by a SOCP Solution

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2015 3rd International Workshop on Compressed Sensing Theory and its Applications to Radar, Sonar, and Remote Sensing
(CoSeRa)

(a)
(b)
Fig.1: QPSK randomly selected model. The figure shows
the phase configuration of unitary vectors that are randomly
selected according to the QPSK modulation scheme.
(SOCPs) using a generic log-barrier algorithm, trough a
successfully computational bottleneck Newton calculation.
The idea is to solve tomographic problems by interior-point
methods for solving convex optimization algorithms that
includes a generic optimization problem with inequality
constraints: Interior-Point-Methods (IPM) solves the generic
optimization problem by applying the Newton's method in
order to convert an inequality constrained problem versus a
sequence of equality constrained problems. This paper
considers a particular IPM algorithm called the log-barrier
method. The goal is to approximately formulate constrained
problem to which Newton's method can be applied. To solve
the problem has been implemented a matrix free solver
based on conjugate gradients where details are explained in
[5]. The optimized vertical reflectivity function x is estimate
in a variable Newton steps and number of log-barrier
iterations. The new theory of CS enables so the
reconstruction of sparse signals using far fewer samples or
measurements than NR. This advantage can be useful in
order to eliminate the need for the MF in the radar receiver,
to reduce the sampling frequency, below the NR, to save the
on board storage memory and to save of the electromagnetic
band pulse signal occupancy [6, 7]. This work is structured
according to the following scheme: Section II is describes
the recovery model structure formed by a random complex
matrix jointed by an HAAR wavelet transformation matrix,

(a)
(b)
Fig.2: CS models. Fig.2 (a): HAAR wavelet matrix. The
matrix performs the wavelet transform of a 1-D signal
vector. Fig.2 (b): reconstruction CS model obtained by
multiplying the random phase vector to the HAAR wavelet
matrix.

Fig.3: Reconstruction of the range profile constituted by

18 point scatterer. Fig.3 (Top): Synthetic target. Fig.3
(Bottom): Target reconstructed by the matched-filter.
having the function to sparsify synthetic targets that exists
in a smooth scattering configuration. Section III is
dedicated to the experimental results, where it is
demonstrated the feasibility to reconstruct radar range
profiles according to three different typologies: point
scatterer; distributed scatterer and hybrid scatterer,
constituted by the presence of point and distributed
scatterers. The results are estimated applying the MF and
the CS theory. It is demonstrated the existence of a great
performances enhancement estimated from the CS results.

II. THE RECOVERY MODEL

In this paper, is reported a new concept of radar signal
processing that implements the CS reconstruction method
made after atomic decomposition. This method is
implemented in order to estimate high resolution radar
range profiles starting from the transmission of coded CW
waveforms, according to the design of an hybrid model,
constituted by the multiplication of two matrices, that
represents two different sub-models. The first model, used to
generate incoherence, is constituted by a Quadrature Phase
Shift Keying (QPSK) signal having unitary modulo but
angles that are randomly selected according to the
modulation scheme. The second model is constituted by a
matrix that performs the HAAR wavelet transform,
designed to sparsify smooth signals, when the scanned
environment is not constituted by isolated coherent targets.
It is provided that the hybrid model built up from the
multiplication of the two sub-models satisfies the Restricted

Fig.4: Reconstruction of the range profile constituted by

18 point scatterer. Fig.3 (Top): Synthetic target. Fig.3
(Bottom): Target reconstructed by the CS.

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(CoSeRa)

Fig.5: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering the

result in Fig.3 depicted. The matched-filter method
generates great errors because of the presence energy
side-lobes.
Isometry Propriety (RIP) and can be suitable to reconstruct
radar range profiles constituted by isolated point targets,
distributed targets and range profiles constituted by the both
of them. The generated hybrid model will be the transmitted
coded signal. The impact of the electromagnetic energy
against the targets, will generate the observation vector,
according to the radar equation. The following paragraph
will provide some theory describing the DWT, used in this
model, in order to generate sparsity.

Fig.7: Radar range profile estimated by compressing the

chirp signal response using the MF. Fig.7 (Top): Synthetic
target. Fig.7 (Bottom): Estimated target.
background. The second and the last study-case are more
compliant to SAR acquisitions, where two environments
constituted by smooth and regularly distributed
back-scattered energy, allocated at different range resolution
cells, has been designed. The results proposed in this paper
are estimated using a MF, collecting signals received by a
classical chirp radar, and using the 1 -norm
minimization method, so transmitting noise signals,
according to the scheme in Fig.1 and 2 depicted. The
simulated classical radar has an LFM based transmitted
between 200MHz of band and in a central frequency set in
the X-band.

III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

This section reports all the experimental results performed
on three different simulated data-sets immersed in noise.
The first one is a range synthetic stack formed by 18 point
scatterers with different energy peaks. The second data-set is
a range synthetic stack having a completely smooth energy
variation, the MATLAB function HeaviSine has been
chosen in order to satisfy this case of study. The last data-set
has the same range synthetic data vector configuration
described in the previously case but some point scatterers
having high Radar Cross Section (RCS) on the smooth
orographic surface has been added, in order to simulate a
hybrid and more complicated environment composed of a
smooth energy variation signal mixed with strong energy
radar echoes. The first case can be assimilates as an ISAR
radar acquisition because the range is composed by point
scatterers existing in a deep black and low energy

2.1 Point Scatterers Range Profile (ISAR Case)

The case of study treated in this section is referred to a
typically range stack acquired by an ISAR because the
compressed range profile is formed by several point
scatterers positioned on a deep low energy background. The
synthetic environment is in Fig.3 (Top) depicted, where the
associated compressed range profile is in Fig.3 (Bottom)
depicted. For this case, a compressor implemented by a MF
has been used. In Fig.4 (Top) the synthetic environment is
compared to the 1 -norm minimization result, represented
in Fig.4 (Bottom). The CS result is estimated providing also
an under-sampling factor of 0.5. In Fig.5, the error existing
between the synthetic data and the estimated matched-filter
result is reported. In Fig.6 the, the CS error is reported.
Comparing the last two results, it is possible to appreciate

Fig.6: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering the

result in Fig.4 depicted. The CS method generates less
energy error if compared to the error level estimated by the
MF.

Fig.8 Radar range profile estimated by l1-norm

minimization. Fig.8 (Top): Synthetic target. Fig.8 (Bottom):
Estimated target.

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2015 3rd International Workshop on Compressed Sensing Theory and its Applications to Radar, Sonar, and Remote Sensing
(CoSeRa)

Fig.9: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering

the result in Fig.7 depicted. The matched-filter method
generates great energy error amount.

Fig.11: Radar range profile estimated by l1-norm

minimization. Fig.11 (Top): Synthetic target. Fig.11
(Bottom): Estimated target.

that the CS error is far less than the classical one estimated
by the matched-filter.

The case of study treated in this section is referred to a

modified version of the previous study-case because some
point scatterers with bright RCS has been inserted on the
HeaviSene MATLAB function. These targets simulates
corner reflectors and they are regularly spaced one to each
other. The synthetic range profile is in Fig. 11 (Top)
depicted, observing the picture it is possible to view the
scattering echoes of two corner reflectors situated at the
range point near 650. In Fig.11 (Bottom), it is possible to
observe the result estimated by the MF. In Fig.12 (Bottom),
the CS compressed range profile is reported. Observing the
result, it is possible to appreciate that the range profile is
correctly reconstructed, also for the present hybrid case
constituted by point and distributed scatterers. The error
levels are reported in Fig.13 and Fig.14, where the
matched-filter and the CS results are respectively depicted.
The error attributed to the CS processing is orders less that
the error attributed to the classical radar where a
matched-filter is employed. In Fig 15 is reported a
particular of the range estimated vector starting from the
range point number 600 up to the range point number 700
of the results depicted in Fig.11 (Top and Bottom) and
Fig.12 (Top and Bottom). The results are the one estimated
from the hybrid case, composed by the point and continuous
scatterers existing along the range line. The result of Fig. 15
(Left) is the synthetic target, the result of Fig.15 (Center) is
the one estimated by the matched-filter and the result
estimated in Fig.15 (Right), is the result estimated by the

2.2 Distributed Scatterers Range Profile (Regular

Orographic Variation, First SAR Case)
The case of study treated in this section is referred
processing a typically range stack acquisition performed by
a SAR where the compressed range profile is constituted by
several point scatterer positioned along a regularly and
smoothly energy backscattering range profile for each range
resolution cell. In order to simulate this kind of signal the
MATLAB HeaviSine function has been generated. The
synthetic environment is in Fig.7 (Top) depicted, where the
associated compressed range profile is in Fig.7 (Bottom)
depicted. For this case, a compressor implemented by a MF
has been used. In Fig.8 (Top) the synthetic environment is
result,
compared
to
the 1 -norm minimization
represented in Fig.8 (Bottom). The CS result is estimated
providing also an under-sampling factor of 0.5. In Fig.9, the
error existing between the synthetic data and the estimated
matched-filter result is reported. In Fig.10, the CS error is
reported. Comparing the last two results, it is possible to
appreciate that the CS error is far less than the classical one
estimated by the matched-filter.
2.3 Distributed and Point Scatterers Range Profile
(Irregular Orographic Variation, Second SAR Case)

Fig.10: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering the

result in Fig.8 depicted. The l1-minimization method
generates a very low error level, if compared to the one
measured from the matched-filter data.

Fig.12: Radar range profile estimated by l1-norm

minimization. Fig.12 (Top): Synthetic target. Fig.12
(Bottom): Estimated target.

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2015 3rd International Workshop on Compressed Sensing Theory and its Applications to Radar, Sonar, and Remote Sensing
(CoSeRa)

Fig.13: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering the

result in Fig.11 depicted. The matched-filter method
generates a great error level, if compared to the one
measured from the CS result, estimated by l1-minimization
optimization process.
CS. For the CS compression method, no ripple and
side-lobes are detected.

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK

In this paper the CS reconstruction method has been tested
on simulated radar data, in order to retrieve range profiles
starting from random observations of the back-scattered
energy, where the EM source is coded using an hybrid
model constituted by the multiplication of two sub-model
matrices. The first model was designed in order to induce
incoherence, designed by a QPSK signal having unitary
modulo but angles that are randomly selected according to
the modulation scheme. The second model was constituted
by a matrix that performs the HAAR-DWT, designed in
order to provide sparsity, when the physical scanned
environment is not sparse. It was provided that the hybrid
model, constituted by the multiplication of the two
sub-models, is perfect to reconstruct radar range profiles
backscattered from isolated point targets, distributed targets
and range profiles backscattered from the both of them.
Every row of the model can be transmitted in a CW mode.
The impact of the electromagnetic energy trough the targets,
will generate the observation vector, according to the radar
equation and the CS theory. Results has been compared with
the classical acquisition methods where the observations are
regularly sampled satisfying the Nyquist theorem. Three
environments has been designed. The first environment
consisted to several point scatterers positioned in a low

Fig.14: Reconstruction error, estimated by considering the

result in Fig.12 depicted. The CS generates a very low error
level, if compared to the one measured from the
matched-filter data.

Fig.15: Particular starting from the range point number

600 up to the range point number 700 of the results
depicted in Fig.11 (Top and Bottom) and Fig.12 (Top and
Bottom). The results are the one estimated from the hybrid
case, composed by the point and continuous scatterers
existing along the range line. Fig.15 (Left): Synthetic data,
Fig.15 (Center): Matched-filter result, Fig.15 (right): CS
result, estimated by the CS.
energy background. This is a typical ISAR scenario. The
second environment was constituted by multiple coherent
scatterers, having a smooth energy variation, simulating
some orographic earth variational RCS. The last
environment was similar to the previous one, where on top
of it, several corner reflectors where installed, the purpose
of this variational condition, was to induce complication to
the environment, in order to test the robustness of the used
method for dense and populated range profiles. The CS
reconstruction method is more efficient respect to the
classical processing concept, where range profiles are
compressed by using the MF. The use of the CS theory has
the advantage to eliminate the need for the MF in the radar
receiver, to reduce the sampling frequency, below the NR
and to save the on board storage memory. Future work is on
processing, considering to apply the above mentioned
concepts to real data.

V. REFERENCES
[1] M. Herman and T. Strohmer, "High-resolution radar via
compressed sensing," Sub. to IEEE Trans. Sig. Proc., Oct.
2007.
[2] R. Baraniuk, P. Steeghs Compressive Radar Imaging IEEE
radar conference 2007 pages 128-133, Boston MA.
[3] E. Cands, J. Romberg, and T. Tao. Robust uncertainty
principles: Exact signal man and T. Strohmer,
"High-resolution radar via CS," Sub. to IEEE Trans. Sig.
Proc., Oct. 2007.
[4] S. Mallat, A Wavelet Tour of Signal Processing, Academic
Press, San Diego, 1999.
[5] Emmanuel Cands and Justin Romberg, Caltech
1 -Magic: Recovery of Sparse Signal via Convex
Programming. Free available from the INTERNET.
[6] Radio Regulations of World Radio-communication Conference
(Genevra 2012) (WRC-12), Edition 2012, Appendices,
Resolutions, Recommendations and ITU-R, Council 2012's
Decision.
[7] Italian Law dated 13 November 2008 Approvazione del
Piano Nazionale di Ripartizione Delle Frequenze, (GU Serie
Generale n. 273 in data 21-11-2008 Suppl. Ord. n. 255).

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