Rapid Backscatter Simulation Techniques for Detailed B-Spline Target Models

摘要

The report describes a method for rapidly evaluating the simulated radar backscatter signatures of B-spline target models moving relative to a source/receiver. A geometric optics approach is used to estimate the radar return from a complex target surface described by a bicubic B-spline mesh. The method exploits the second-order continuity of bicubic B-spline surfaces to reduce the problem of finding all the specular points associated with each new trajectory position to that of tracking the motion of existing points. In particular, it is shown that the locations of the annihilations and creations of specular paths may be predicted for an entire trajectory, eliminating the need to search the whole surface for specular points as the target moves in relation to the source/receiver. The method is shown to work for the multiple-bounce case as well. The report contains several recommendations for further exploitation of the properties of B-spline surfaces for the tracking of specular points. (fr)