Method and apparatus for blurring effect mitigation in ground-based radar images

Abstract

In a method for mitigating the blurring effect in a radar image () obtained by a ground-based radar system, thereof, a Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) value is selected () in a radar sensor unit () such that radial velocity measurements of the targets of an observed scenario can be made up to a maximum unambiguous velocity v, a radial velocity threshold is also selected () to discriminate between substantially stationary targets and possible fast-moving targets having radial velocities v≤v* and v>v*, respectively. The scenario is conventionally scanned () by emitting transmission signals to the targets and receiving corresponding backscattered signals () from which raw data () are extracted (), the latter in turn are Doppler-processed () so as to discriminate first and second data () related to the substantially stationary and to the fast-moving target(s), respectively, according to whether the measured radial velocities (v) are lower than the radial velocity threshold (v*) or not, respectively; second data are removed () from the Doppler-processed data () and radar image () is formed from remaining first data, i.e., based on the substantially stationary targets only. The method allows reducing the occurrence of artifacts due to fast-moving objects that are systematically present or that turn up in the scenario at the moment of taking an image thereof, such as truckloads or vehicle in general, as well as crane mobile portion in scenarios like a portion of a mine. ().