Motion estimation and imaging with a multistatic ISAR system

In this article we present the realization of an experimental multistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar (M-ISAR) system. The primary focus of this work is to utilize the multistatic geometry to estimate the motion of a maneuvering ground target. We propose solutions to all experimental challenges that go along with such a setup, including hardware development, synchronization, and signal processing. Results from real data show that images of reasonable quality can be obtained without making strong assumptions on the target trajectory. On the basis of these results, benefits and drawbacks of the multilateration approach to motion estimation are discussed, critical elements of the processing chain are highlighted, and phenomenological experience is shared.