Design and In-Orbit Validation of a Novel Compact Bidirectional Trapezoidal Reflector for X-Band Spaceborne SAR Absolute Radiometric Calibration.
Saved in:
| Title: | Design and In-Orbit Validation of a Novel Compact Bidirectional Trapezoidal Reflector for X-Band Spaceborne SAR Absolute Radiometric Calibration. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Sun, Shiyu1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Yu1,2 (AUTHOR) wangyu@mail.ie.ac.cn, Li, Huijuan1,2 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Xin1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. Mar2026, Vol. 18 Issue 5, p770. 25p. |
| Subjects: | Synthetic aperture radar, Radar cross sections, Space-based radar, Model validation, Lighting reflectors |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? A novel compact bidirectional trapezoidal CR is proposed for spaceborne SAR radiometric calibration to eliminate the need for CR alignment reorientations in the field while minimizing RCS loss as much as possible. In-orbit validation demonstrates that the difference in calibration constants between the novel CR (non-aligned radiometric calibration method) and the TTCR (traditional aligned calibration method) meets the radiometric calibration accuracy requirement. What are the implications of the main findings? The novel CR significantly simplifies field operations and reduces labor dependency, making it suitable for the spaceborne SAR commissioning phase and long-term performance monitoring. Its bidirectional configuration supports both ascending and descending satellite passes, effectively increasing the frequency of radiometric calibration and enhancing the data acquisition efficiency. Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) absolute radiometric calibration relies on point targets with a known radar cross-section (RCS), such as triangular trihedral corner reflectors (TTCRs). Traditionally, radiometric calibration using TTCRs requires precise alignment of the corner reflector (CR) boresight to the radar line-of-sight (LOS), leading to frequent field operations and high labor dependency. In this study, a novel compact bidirectional trapezoidal CR is proposed to eliminate such alignment reorientations. The novel CR adopts three design considerations: a scalene shape to optimize the boresight elevation angle and enhance the peak RCS; a bidirectional configuration with azimuth fine-tuning to align with the radar LOS for both ascending and descending passes; and trapezoidal plate trimming to reduce the volume and weight without sacrificing RCS performance. An in-orbit validation is conducted in Xi'an, China, using the SuperView Neo 2-03 satellite. The results demonstrate that the imaging quality of the bidirectional trapezoidal CRs is comparable to that of conventional TTCRs, with all the parameters meeting system specifications. The radiometric calibration constant of the bidirectional trapezoidal CR differs from that of the conventional TTCR by no more than 0.27 dB, with a total uncertainty of ~0.33 dB (1σ)—demonstrating that it achieves equivalent radiometric calibration accuracy to TTCRs. The experiment confirms the feasibility and engineering applicability of the bidirectional trapezoidal CR for X-band SAR radiometric calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192640027 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Design and In-Orbit Validation of a Novel Compact Bidirectional Trapezoidal Reflector for X-Band Spaceborne SAR Absolute Radiometric Calibration. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sun%2C+Shiyu%22">Sun, Shiyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Yu%22">Wang, Yu</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wangyu@mail.ie.ac.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Huijuan%22">Li, Huijuan</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Xin%22">Zhang, Xin</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 18 Issue 5, p770. 25p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Synthetic+aperture+radar%22">Synthetic aperture radar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radar+cross+sections%22">Radar cross sections</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space-based+radar%22">Space-based radar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Model+validation%22">Model validation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lighting+reflectors%22">Lighting reflectors</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? A novel compact bidirectional trapezoidal CR is proposed for spaceborne SAR radiometric calibration to eliminate the need for CR alignment reorientations in the field while minimizing RCS loss as much as possible. In-orbit validation demonstrates that the difference in calibration constants between the novel CR (non-aligned radiometric calibration method) and the TTCR (traditional aligned calibration method) meets the radiometric calibration accuracy requirement. What are the implications of the main findings? The novel CR significantly simplifies field operations and reduces labor dependency, making it suitable for the spaceborne SAR commissioning phase and long-term performance monitoring. Its bidirectional configuration supports both ascending and descending satellite passes, effectively increasing the frequency of radiometric calibration and enhancing the data acquisition efficiency. Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) absolute radiometric calibration relies on point targets with a known radar cross-section (RCS), such as triangular trihedral corner reflectors (TTCRs). Traditionally, radiometric calibration using TTCRs requires precise alignment of the corner reflector (CR) boresight to the radar line-of-sight (LOS), leading to frequent field operations and high labor dependency. In this study, a novel compact bidirectional trapezoidal CR is proposed to eliminate such alignment reorientations. The novel CR adopts three design considerations: a scalene shape to optimize the boresight elevation angle and enhance the peak RCS; a bidirectional configuration with azimuth fine-tuning to align with the radar LOS for both ascending and descending passes; and trapezoidal plate trimming to reduce the volume and weight without sacrificing RCS performance. An in-orbit validation is conducted in Xi'an, China, using the SuperView Neo 2-03 satellite. The results demonstrate that the imaging quality of the bidirectional trapezoidal CRs is comparable to that of conventional TTCRs, with all the parameters meeting system specifications. The radiometric calibration constant of the bidirectional trapezoidal CR differs from that of the conventional TTCR by no more than 0.27 dB, with a total uncertainty of ~0.33 dB (1σ)—demonstrating that it achieves equivalent radiometric calibration accuracy to TTCRs. The experiment confirms the feasibility and engineering applicability of the bidirectional trapezoidal CR for X-band SAR radiometric calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=192640027 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/rs18050770 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 25 StartPage: 770 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Synthetic aperture radar Type: general – SubjectFull: Radar cross sections Type: general – SubjectFull: Space-based radar Type: general – SubjectFull: Model validation Type: general – SubjectFull: Lighting reflectors Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Design and In-Orbit Validation of a Novel Compact Bidirectional Trapezoidal Reflector for X-Band Spaceborne SAR Absolute Radiometric Calibration. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sun, Shiyu – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wang, Yu – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Li, Huijuan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhang, Xin IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20724292 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: Remote Sensing Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
