Drone-Based Passive SAR With DVB-T Transmissions

Ali Bekar; Joe Bryan; Christopher Gilliam; Michail Antoniou

doi:10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676

Drone-Based Passive SAR With DVB-T Transmissions

Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

92 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of a dronebased passive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system using Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity. To reduce payload complexity and weight, the onboard radar system uses a single-channel receiver. In addition, an image formation algorithm is derived. Its difference compared to conventional approaches is that it is capable of both forming passive SAR images of extended target areas and removing direct signal artefacts in the image at both short (where drone-based systems are more likely to operate) and long ranges by using modified CLEAN and sub-aperture based minimum pixel selection techniques. The validity of the proposed imaging algorithm is tested through a real-world experiment with a drone-based demonstrator.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2025 IEEE International Radar Conference (RADAR)
Publisher	IEEE
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331539566
ISBN (Print)	9798331539573 (PoD)
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676
Publication status	Published - 19 Jun 2025
Event	2025 IEEE International Radar Conference, RADAR 2025 - Atlanta, United States Duration: 3 May 2025 → 9 May 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the IEEE Radar Conference
Publisher	IEEE
ISSN (Print)	1097-5764
ISSN (Electronic)	2375-5318

Conference

Conference	2025 IEEE International Radar Conference, RADAR 2025
Country/Territory	United States
City	Atlanta
Period	3/05/25 → 9/05/25

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IEEE.

Keywords

drone-based SAR
Passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Networks and Communications
Signal Processing
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676Licence: None: All rights reserved

BekarA2025DroneAccepted author manuscript, 1.27 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

@inproceedings{8ecbdd4a9aff4ffc97d4ec8149abddf0,

title = "Drone-Based Passive SAR With DVB-T Transmissions",

abstract = "This study investigates the potential of a dronebased passive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system using Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity. To reduce payload complexity and weight, the onboard radar system uses a single-channel receiver. In addition, an image formation algorithm is derived. Its difference compared to conventional approaches is that it is capable of both forming passive SAR images of extended target areas and removing direct signal artefacts in the image at both short (where drone-based systems are more likely to operate) and long ranges by using modified CLEAN and sub-aperture based minimum pixel selection techniques. The validity of the proposed imaging algorithm is tested through a real-world experiment with a drone-based demonstrator.",

keywords = "drone-based SAR, Passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T)",

author = "Ali Bekar and Joe Bryan and Christopher Gilliam and Michail Antoniou",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 IEEE.; 2025 IEEE International Radar Conference, RADAR 2025 ; Conference date: 03-05-2025 Through 09-05-2025",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798331539573 (PoD)",

series = "Proceedings of the IEEE Radar Conference",

publisher = "IEEE",

booktitle = "2025 IEEE International Radar Conference (RADAR)",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Drone-Based Passive SAR With DVB-T Transmissions

AU - Bekar, Ali

AU - Bryan, Joe

AU - Gilliam, Christopher

AU - Antoniou, Michail

PY - 2025/6/19

Y1 - 2025/6/19

N2 - This study investigates the potential of a dronebased passive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system using Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity. To reduce payload complexity and weight, the onboard radar system uses a single-channel receiver. In addition, an image formation algorithm is derived. Its difference compared to conventional approaches is that it is capable of both forming passive SAR images of extended target areas and removing direct signal artefacts in the image at both short (where drone-based systems are more likely to operate) and long ranges by using modified CLEAN and sub-aperture based minimum pixel selection techniques. The validity of the proposed imaging algorithm is tested through a real-world experiment with a drone-based demonstrator.

AB - This study investigates the potential of a dronebased passive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system using Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity. To reduce payload complexity and weight, the onboard radar system uses a single-channel receiver. In addition, an image formation algorithm is derived. Its difference compared to conventional approaches is that it is capable of both forming passive SAR images of extended target areas and removing direct signal artefacts in the image at both short (where drone-based systems are more likely to operate) and long ranges by using modified CLEAN and sub-aperture based minimum pixel selection techniques. The validity of the proposed imaging algorithm is tested through a real-world experiment with a drone-based demonstrator.

KW - drone-based SAR

KW - Passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

KW - Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009404786

U2 - 10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676

DO - 10.1109/RADAR52380.2025.11031676

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105009404786

SN - 9798331539573 (PoD)

T3 - Proceedings of the IEEE Radar Conference

BT - 2025 IEEE International Radar Conference (RADAR)

PB - IEEE

T2 - 2025 IEEE International Radar Conference, RADAR 2025

Y2 - 3 May 2025 through 9 May 2025

ER -

Drone-Based Passive SAR With DVB-T Transmissions

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this