A Novel and Compact Ku-Band Sensor For Polarimetric SAR Systems Placed in UAVs: Development and System Performances

International Journal of Remote Sensing Applications Volume 4 Issue 2, June 2014
doi: 10.14355/ijrsa.2014.0402.02
http://www.ijrsa.org
A Novel and Compact Ku-band Sensor for

Polarimetric SAR Systems Placed in UAVs:
Development and System Performances
S. Snchez-Sevilleja*, A. Arenas-Pingarrn*, J. Del Castillo-Mena, J.R.Larraaga-Sudupe
* Aerospace and engineering Department (ISDEFE-INTA). Calle Beatriz de Bobadilla, 3. 28040 Madrid
Radar Laboratory, Department of Radiofrequency and Electronic Technologies, National Institute of Aerospace
Technology, (INTA), Crta Ajalvir, km 4, 28850, Torrejn de Ardoz, Spain
sar7.pers_externo@inta.es; sar1.pers_externo@inta.es; castillomja@inta.es; sudujr@inta.es
Received 21th August 2013; Accepted 03rd March 2014; Published 3rd June 2014
2014 Science and Engineering Publishing Company
Abstract
Keywords
A new compact Ku band patch array antenna with dual

linear polarization and excellet isolation values have been
designed, implemented and measured. The antenna is
placed in a new no-tripulated UAV platform. This platform
is smaller than the last one used by INTA in which others
no-compact prototypes were placed in. A lot of advantages
have been achieved with this smaller and compact new
system.
Antenna; Uav; Sar; Resolution; Nesz; Aasr; Rasr
Two antenna prototypes have been designed and

manufactured in Ku-band. Both designs have improved
some important characteristics compared with the previous
and bigger one developed by INTA in X-band. The new
prototypes focus the work on RF components
miniaturization, isolation between polarizations (<-29dB),
size and weight of the complete sensor (300mm x 100mm),
spatial resolution and the azimuth and range ambiguities.
Finally, system performances evaluation has been carried
out showing the current differences in resolution and
ambiguities levels between both antenna prototypes. The
first prototypt (4x8 array antenna in Ku band) is better for
narrow coverage up to 4Km and very high azimuth
resolution of 0.10m. In addition to that, it can be used to
provide very high spatial resolution products up to 20cm x
10cm single look with a narrow range coverage below 4 Km
and tight NESZ and AASR values of -20dB and -17dB
respectively.
On the other hand, the second prototype 4x32 array antenna
in Ku band, provides moderate coverage up to 6Km with
high resolution of 0.3m and it can be used to provide high
spatial resolution up to 30cm x 30cm with better range
coverage below 6Km and better sensitivity and AASR values
around -27dB and -35dB respectively.
Introduction
QUASAR (Quick look Unmanned Aerial SAR) project
started as a part of INTASAR program activities, in
order to
involve INTA Radar Laboratory
developments for UAVs and lightweight platforms
[1,2].
In SAR systems a huge array with a small aperture
antenna is synthesized taking advantage of the
movement of the UAV platform as it travels along a
path [3,4]. Regarding this, planar antennas are
important for SAR systems placed on Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) due to low profile and lowcost manufacturing. In this context, a novel, compact
and very light Ku band antenna with dual polarization
and a very good isolation value has been developed
and measured with excellent results not only in radio
electric characteristics but also in range and azimuth
ambiguity. The antenna will be placed inside a pod
under the wings of the platform (FIG 1). The antenna
of the first prototype design is composed by a 4x8 dual
polarized square patch array fed through a very
efficient and novel structure based on a cross-shape
slot to achieve a large bandwidth and, overall, to
achieve an excellent isolation between polarizations
needed in a polarimetric system such as the one INTA
which has developed [5, 6, 7, 8]. Likewise, the antenna
second prototype is composed by a 4x32 dual
polarized square patch array working in the same way
87
of the first prototype.

The paper is structured as following: first of all, the
antenna designs (first and second prototypes) are
showed and divided into the radiation element, the
transitions between layers, the feeding networks and
the complete antenna. Afterward, the both prototypes
measurements are presented. Finally, system
performances evaluation has been done with both
prototypes and important conclusions are obtained.
designed with H-shape slots (FIG 3) while the two

different line layers correspond to the feeding
networks : vertical and horizontal (FIG 4).
(a) Manufactured transition
FIG 1. GIMBAL IN UAV IN WHICH THE ANTENNA IS PLACED.
Antenna Design
The antenna is based on a micro strip multilayer patch
array fed through two slots in Ku band with 2GHz of
bandwidth.
The
antenna
specifications
are
summarized in TABLE 1.
(b) Transition between layers measurements
TABLE 1. ANTENNA MODULE SPECIFICATIONS.
FIG 3. TRANSITION BETWEEN LAYERS.
Frequency band
Bandwidth
Gain
BW-3dB in elevation plane
BW-3dB in azimuth plane
Input matching
Polarization
SLL
X-polar value
Isolation between polarizations
Weight
Maximum size
Ku band
15.7GHz-17.7GHz
18-22dBi
18-22
8-12
-10dB
Dual linear (horizontal and
vertical)
-13 dB
<-25 dB
>30dB
3Kg
300 mm x 100 mm
Each sheet is made up of dielectric RO4350b with a

height of 127m and two cooper layers of 35 m (FIG
4a, FIG 4b and FIG 5): the upper cooper layer of each
sheet contains the ground plane of the feeding
network and it includes the transition and radiation
slots (FIG 5b). The lower dielectric of each sheet
contains one of each feeding network.
The radiation is generated with a square patch fed by

two perpendicular and resonant slots placed in the
centre of the patch in order to get a better isolation
values (FIG 2).
(a) upper line layer
FIG 2. RADIATING ELEMENT DESIGN
In addition to that, because of its better isolation

characteristic, the transitions between layers are
88
(b) lower line layer

FIG 4. HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL FEEDING NETWORK.
(a) Manufactured patch layer
FIG 8. BACK VIEW OF COMPLETE ANTENNA

MANUFACTURED AND MOUNTED.
(b) Ground layer with manufactured slots
FIG 9. FRONT VIEW OF COMPLETE ANTENNA

MANUFACTURED AND MOUNTED.
FIG 5. PATCH LAYER AND GROUND LAYER WITH SLOTS.
Each feeding network is excited by a coaxial SMA

connector, through a vertical and a novel transition
design (FIG 6). The energy is addressed by the feeding
lines until the slots, where the field lines are coupled
trough the slot to the patch.
Antenna Measurements
The completed antenna first prototype (FIG 8 and FIG
9) has been measured in INTA facilities. As it is
shown in FIG 10, the isolation between polarizations is
better than -28 dB and the input matching for
horizontal and vertical polarization is better than -10
dB.
Measurement of 4 x 8 array input matching and isolation
0
S11polH meas
S22polV meas
S12 meas
S21 meas
-5
-10
FIG 6. VERTICAL COAXIAL TO MICROSTRIP TRANSITION

DESIGN.
dB
The completed antenna (first prototype 4 x 8 elements)

has been manufactured and mounted joining the
different layers including rohacell separators between
them and nylon screws to avoid spurious radiation
effects (FIG 7, FIG 8 and FIG 9).
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
15.8
16
16.2
16.4
16.8
16.6
f (GHz)
17
17.2
17.4
17.6
FIG 10. MEASUREMENTS OF INPUT MATCHING AND

ISOLATION OF COMPLETE ANTENNA.
FIG 7. STACK-UP OF COMPLETE ANTENNA.
The next graphics represent the antenna radiation

measured in INTA anechoic chamber for the central
frequency (16.7GHz). Four main cuts are represented
which are a kind of combination between
polarizations H and V and field vector E direction: FIG
11 shows the E-plane for the horizontal polarization
(azimuth). FIG 12 represents the radiation pattern for
89
the horizontal polarization and H plane (elevation).

FIG 13 and 14 illustrate the E and H planes for the
vertical polarization. The side lobe level is better than 13dB and the cross-polar values lower than -23dB very
close to the requirements. There are no phase errors in
the feeding networks neither ripple in the main lobe.
As a first conclusion regarding the antenna
measurements, it is shown that all requirements are
complied with the initial specifications.
Frequency = 16.7 GHz, Antenna 4 x 8 Vertical polarization H-plane

0
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
-5
-10
Radiation Pattern (dB)
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
()
Frequency = 16.7 GHz, Antenna 4x8 Horizontal Polarization E-plane

0
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
-5
|Radiation pattern| (dB)
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
()
FIG 14. MEASUREMENTS OF THE RADIATION PATTERN

VERTICAL POLARIZATION H-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA 4x8
ELEMENTS.
FIG 15 represents the measurements of gain and

directivity of completed antenna for all the frequency
band. It is shown that the total losses in vertical
polarization (2.15 dB) are worse than in horizontal
polarization (1.38 dB) because the feeding networks
are different between them as well as due to the
alignment process which is complicated and critical.

HORIZONTAL POLARIZATION E-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA
4x8 ELEMENTS
Frequency = 16.7 GHz, Antenna 4 x 8 Horizontal polarization H plane
0
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
|Radiation Pattern| (dB)
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
FIG 15. MEASUREMENTS OF GAIS VS DIRECTIVITY COMPLETE

ANTENNA.
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
()

HORIZONTAL POLARIZATION H-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA
4x8 ELEMENTS.
Frequency = 16.7 GHz, Antenna 4 x 8 Vertical polarization E-plane
0
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
-5
Radiation pattern(dB)
-10
FIG 17 and FIG 18 represent the second manufactured

prototype which is bigger than the first one with the
same requirements and 4 x32 elements. In this case,
the BW-3dB is 2 in azimuth plane and 25.19 dBi of
maximum gain in central frequency for H polarization
and 24.31 dBi of maximum gain in central frequency
for V polarization.
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
()

VERTICAL POLARIZATION E-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA 4x8
ELEMENTS.
90
FIG 16. ANTENNA 4x32 ELEMENTS.
Frequency = 16.7 GHz,Antenna 4 xA32. Horizontal polarization E- plane

0
Transmitted power, that will influence system

NESZ, will be limited by platform available power
level and thermal aspects to a total of 50dBm.
Transmitter maximum duty cycle has to be also

taken into consideration as will limit average
received power of radar echoes limiting NESZ. Tx
duty cycle will also limit timing of system as
shown in swath wide limits provided. A reference
value for Tx pulse duty cycle of 10% will be used.
Tx Chirp bandwidth will be set to achieve the

required range resolution to 600MHz and 1GHz.
This will set the required Rx Bandwidth that will
limit system Noise power. Chirp bandwidth will
set the minimum required sampling frequency of
ADCs, but nowadays values in the range of
2GSamples/s are achievable.
Rx noise figure will be set to 3dB taking into

account a Noise figure of 2dB of a typical GaAs
LNA and losses due to antenna, connectors,
polarization switch Tx/Rx circulator and Rx limiter,
which can sum up to 2dB approx.
One important aspect is the platform height that

will influence coverage, spreading losses and then
SNR. A maximum platform height of 6100 m will
be used.
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
()

HORIZONTAL POLARIZATION E-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA
4x32 ELEMENTS
System Performances Analysis

Regarding system performances, there will be several
system limits or constraints that have to be defined to
be taken in the performance simulations. These
constraints are defined by available technological
limitations and system engineering aspects.
Frequency = 16.7 GHz, Antenna 4 x 32 Vertical Polarization H-plane
0
Polar meas
Polar sim
XPolar meas
-10
-20
-30
System Sensitivity
-40
-50
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
()
20
40
60
80

VERTICAL POLARIZATION H-PLANE (16.7GHz). ANTENNA
4x32 ELEMENTS.
Noise equivalent sigma nought is a figure that

presents the minimum backscattering coefficient (0)
of a target to be detected as its received power equals
the systems noise power. Based on the radar equation:
PRx =
The main aspects to be taken into account are related

to QUASAR RF front-end and are shown in Table 2 [9].
TABLE 2: QUASAR SYSTEM PARAMETERS.
System parameters
Operating frequency
Max Tx power
Max Tx bandwidth
Max Tx duty cycle
Rx noise figure
PRF range
Platform Height
Platform speed
Terrain Height
Antenna Length
Antenna Height
Value
16.7GHz
37.2dBm
1000MHz
20%
3dB
[1500:6500]
610m
70m/s
700m
4x8 (96mm) and
4x32 ( 400 mm)
4x8 ( 60 mm)
Operating frequency will be set to Ku band, with a

centre frequency of 16.7GHz.
PTx G AntTx ( , )G AntRx ( , ) 2 G Rx
(4 )3 R 4 Ltot
c
3 dB
R Az
2 sin ( inc )
(1)
Being PTx the peak transmitted power, G AntTx / RX

antenna gains in Tx and Rx respectively, the
wavelength, the target backscattering coefficient,
inc
the incidence angle and
3 dB
Az
the antenna
azimuth beamwidth.
The NESZ can be derived by equalling Eq. (1) to noise
power and solving for [10]:
(4 )2 R 4 Ltot KT0 BWRX F

NESZ ( R ) =
PTX G antTx ( , )2 G RX
2 sin ( inc ) B D
PRF
(2)
91
Where BWRX is receiver Bandwidth, F is noise figure,
Where
fd+mPRF is
the
Doppler
frequency of
and BD the azimuth Doppler bandwidth.
mth azimuth ambiguous area.
System Spatial Resolution
System Performances Results
Resolution represents the minimum space distance to

discriminate two close targets. It is measured as a
resolution cell and can be separated into Range and
Azimuth Resolutions.
This section shows the performance results which are

obtained by simulation using QUASAR system
parameters and antenna characterization data.
Range resolution is limited by chirp transmitted

bandwidth ( BWTX ) following the equation [10]:
(3)
Azimuth resolution is limited by azimuth illumination

time of the target, or in other words by the available
Doppler bandwidth of the imaged target [10]:
R AZ = 0.886
Vg
2 Vsat
3 dB
AZ
system sensitivity-NESZ
-14
-16
(4)
-18
Where V g is ground is projected velocity and Vsat is

satellite forward velocity.
NESZ(dB)
c
2 BWTX sin ( inc )
RGR = 0.886
The results have been obtained at worst case of

platform attitude of 6000m. Three look angles
configuration were stabilised in order to calculate
performance of different QUASAR image products.
Pulse length is limited to 40s in order to allow
receive window to be open-ended before Near range
echoes reach the system at 30 look angle
configuration.
System Ambiguities
Range ambiguities are due to echoes from previous or

subsequent pulses that reach radar receiver at the
same time the desired echo. It is defined by Range
ambiguity to signal ratio equation [10]:
R 2 sin( inc )
GantTX ( R) GantRX ( R) 0 ( R)
m
m
m
G antTx ( Ramb
) G antRx ( Ramb
) 0 ( Ramb
)
Nr
m
m
Ramb
sin( incAmb
)
2
m = Nr
m0
AASR( R) =
m = NA
0.5 BD
0.5 BD
0.5 BD
92
GantTx ( fd ) GantTx ( fd )GantRx ( fd ) df
25
30
35
40
45
look angle
50
55
60
65
FIG 19 SYSTEM PREDICTED NESZ USING 4X8 ELEMENTS

ANTENNA
FIG 19 depicts system sensitivity with 4x8 elements

array antenna versus look angle configuration. At this
configuration Tx and Rx bandwidth has been set to a
maximum of 1GHz in order to get the better range
resolution.
Beams coverage
4
3.9
(6)
3.8
Range coverage (km)
Azimuth ambiguities are due to the fact SAR azimuth

Doppler bandwidth is sampled at a frequency equal
the PRF. Azimuth returns from a target are not band
limited and there will be aliasing of returns coming
from secondary lobes[10].
GantTx ( fd + mPRF )GantRx ( fd + mPRF ) df
20
(5)
distance to ambiguous returns.
look=45
look=60
-28
15
0.5 BD
look=30
-26
Being R the distance to desired target and the Ramb
NA
-22
-24
There will be undesired radar returns that will reach

receiver at the same time the desired ones will do
which are known as ambiguities.
RASR( R) =
-20
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
look=30
3.3
3.2
15
look=45
look=60
20
25
30
35
40
lookangle
45
50
55
60
65
FIG 20 SYSTEM PREDICTED COVERAGE USING 4X8 ELEMENTS

ANTENNA
FIG 20 presents the system coverage for a NESZ better

than 15dB while system spatial resolution is shown in
FIG 21.
Azimuth Ambiguity to Signal Ratio - AASR

-17.1545
look=30
look=45
-17.1545
look=60
RASR and AASR are depicted in FIG 22 and 23

respectively. RASR is negligible as expected in
airborne based SAR comparing with AASR values. In
any case, AASR values are limited values as equation
5 do not take into account the different spreading
losses suffered by ambiguous returns and desired
echoes and a further effect due to the different
azimuth compression gain during image processing
steps as will be demonstrated in next section.
Rg look=30
AZ look=30
AZ look=45
resolution(m)
RG look=60
look=60
0.4
0.3
-17.1545
-17.1545
-17.1545
-17.1545
-17.1545
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
look angle
50
55
60
65
TABLE 3: QUASAR PREDICTED PERFORMANCES
0.2
0.1
0
15
-17.1545
It can be seen how 4x8 configuration can be used to

provide very high spatial resolution products up to
20cm x 10cm single look with a narrow range coverage
below 4 Km and tight NESZ and AASR values of-20dB
and -17dB respectively.
RG look=45
0.5
-17.1545
FIG 23 SYSTEM PREDICTED AASR USING 4X8 ELEMENTS

ANTENNA
Spatial resolution
0.7
0.6
Azimuth ambiguity ratio(dB)
-17.1545
20
25
30
35
40
45
look angle
50
55
60
65
FIG 21 SYSTEM PREDICTED RESOLUTION USING 4X8

ELEMENTS ANTENNA
TABLE 3 summarizes the results obtained including

also the ones achieved by using 4x32 elements array
antenna. With the last configuration the only
modification on system parameters is the use of a
limited Tx and RX bandwidth to 600MHz as azimuth
resolution is decreased due to the use of a narrower
beamwidth, thus sampling a smaller Doppler
bandwidth.
Range Ambiguity to Signal Ratio - AASR
-82
-84
Antenna
Look
Angle
[degrees]
PRF
NESZ
[dB]
AASR
[dB]
RASR
[dB]
Spatial
Rg
Resol.
Az
[mxm]
Coverage
[Km]
4x8
4x32
30
45
60
30
45
60
1200
1200
1200
1000
1000
1000
-23.3
-20.5
-17.3
-30.2 -27.6
-24.1
-17.1
-17.1
-17.1
-35
-35
-35
-97.7
-92
-86.1
-102
-96.7
-90.3
0.35
0.09
0.23
0.09
0.18
0.09
0.6
0.32
0.38
0.32
0.3
0.32
3.2
3.8
3.7
4.5
5.9
4x32 configuration can be used to provide high spatial

resolution up to 30cm x 30cm with better range
coverage below 6Km and better sensitivity and AASR
values around -27dB and -35dB respectively.
Range ambiguity ratio(dB)
-86
Azimuth Ambiguity Analysis
-88
-90
-92
-94
-96
look=30
-98
look=45
-100
-102
15
look=60
20
25
30
35
40
45
look angle
50
55
60
65
FIG 22 SYSTEM PREDICTED RASR USING 4X8 ELEMENTS

ANTENNA
Due to the fact the azimuth response in a SAR system

is sampled by the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), the
azimuth bandwidth is limited inside the band between
-PRF/2 and +PRF/2. Because received Doppler
frequencies extend beyond the bandwidth given by
the PRF, it exists in aliasing which causes replicas of
point and extended targets when processing azimuth
signals. Simulations to estimate the relative amplitude
of such replicas that appear on the image are shown in
this section.
93
Azimuth signals are modulated in amplitude

depending on the antenna pattern, since each Doppler
frequency is related to one pointing angle by equation
f doppler =
2v
sen ( )
(7)
Where v is the platform speed (50m/s), the

wavelength (18mm) and the pointing angle to the
target. Thus, depending on platform speed and
wavelength, the azimuth spectrum is amplitude
modulated.
Azimuth Ambiguity Results
In this section the azimuth ambiguity results are
shown. In FIG 24 and FIG 25 the azimuth antenna
pattern (red, left axis) for horizontal polarization
patterns with 32 and 8 elements respectively, with
aperture of 120 (from -60 to 60), together with the
aliased wrapped Doppler frequencies (green, right
axis) are plotted. PRF is 1500Hz, so bandwidth is
limited by -750Hz and 750Hz.
azimuth pattern: A32PH planeE-f=16,7GHz.mat
0
1000
-10
Amplitude [dB]
500
-20
250
0
-30
-250
-40
-500
Doppler frequency [Hz]
750
the main ramp, the better for lower power level

replicas. However, because the azimuth compression
is performed by correlating with a matched filter, the
ambiguous targets have lower level than expected,
because beyond the main response, the azimuth
response (frequency modulation) is different, since in
the main response the pointing angle in equation 7
varies almost linearly, and beyond it doesnt, so the
filter is not matched. This can be observed in FIG 26,
where the main response (centre of the image,
normalized to 0dB) and the expected replicas after
azimuth compression simulation are represented with
pattern and frequency modulation of FIG 24, for the
case without considering antenna pattern (black plot)
and antennas with 4x32 (H and V polarizations, red
and magenta respectively) and 4x8 elements (H and V
polarizations, blue and cyan respectively).
Compressed response
0
-20
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
10
20
30
40
1000
250
0
-30
-250
-500
-40
Doppler frequency [Hz]
500
-20
-750
-50
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
10
20
30
40
50
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-20
-30
-40
-50
750
-10
10
Compressed main response
Amplitude [dB]
azimuth pattern: A8PH planeE-f=16,7GHz.mat
0
-10
FIG 24 DOPPLER FREQUENCY PATTERN MODULATION (4 x 32

ELEMENTS)
0
FIG 26 COMPRESSED RESPONSE OVER FULL APERTURE
-1000
50
-5
Azimuth [Km]
Angles [degree] from target point of view
Amplitude [dB]
-10
-750
-50
-1000
Angles [degree] from target point of view
FIG 25 DOPPLER FREQUENCY PATTERN MODULATION (4 x 8

ELEMENTS)
Each ramp of the green saw tooth profile represents an

azimuth chirp to be compressed in the azimuth
compression step during image processing, and hence
all except the one around the main pattern lobe will be
replicas of the target, so as lower the pattern outside
94
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-10
Amplitude [dB]
-60
-70
-0.9165
-0.916
-0.9155
-0.915
-0.9145
-0.914
-0.9135
-0.913
Azimuth [Km]
FIG 27 COMPRESSED MAIN RESPONSE
Although in FIG 24 azimuth pattern in -60 (furthest

left ramp) is higher than other ambiguous ramps, its
amplitude level after compression is lower, due to the
fact the filter is unmatched. FIG 28 to FIG 31 contain
the compressed main response, nearest left (negative
angles), furthest left, nearest right (positive angles)
and furthest right ambiguities respectively that are a
zoomed view of responses in FIG 27. In FIG 28, the
different responses for the antenna with 4x32 and 4x8
elements are due to the different bandwidth. The
ambiguous level is always -50dB lower than the main
response (0 dB), which means that ambiguous target

amplitude response in SAR image is 50dB lower than
its corresponding real target.
Compressed nearest left ambiguity
-30
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-40
Amplitude [dB]
-50
Conclusions
-70
-80
Two prototypes of a novel, broadband and a compact

Ku-band SAR antenna have been designed,
manufactured and measured in INTA. The antennas,
which will be placed in a UAV platform, present a
very good isolation between polarizations (<-28 dB), a
good input matching better than -10 dB in 2GHz of
bandwidth and a very good radiation pattern
performances such as main lobe, side lobe level,
XPolar, gain and directivity, consequently, it is
complied with the initial requirements.
-90
-110
-120
-2.9
-2.85
-2.8
-2.75
-2.65
-2.7
Azimuth [Km]
FIG 28 COMPRESSED NEAREST LEFT AMIBIGUTY

Compressed furthest left ambiguity
-40
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-50
Amplitude [dB]
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
-110
-120
-130
-12
-11
-10
-9
-8
-7
Azimuth [Km]
FIG 29 COMPRESSED FURTHEST LEFT AMIBIGUTY

Compressed nearest right ambiguity
-30
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-40
-50
Amplitude [dB]
levels are considered only the azimuth dimension to

synthesize azimuth signals, so range curvature and its
curvature correction existing in real images have not
been taken into account. Since for ambiguous targets
this correction is not properly carried out (alike for
matched filters), real measurements over a SAR image
should give even lower ambiguous levels.
-60
-100
By means of performance simulations using QUASAR

system parameters related to radar front-end and
using the measured radiation patterns of these
antennas, a comparison between the two different
antenna options has been performed. It can be
concluded how different products are in terms of
coverage, resolution and ambiguities level. The 4x8
array antenna is better for narrow coverage up to 4Km
and very high azimuth resolution of 0.10m while 4x32
array antenna provides moderate coverage up to 6Km
with high resolution of 0.3m.
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
-110
-120
0.9
0.95
1.05
1.1
1.15
Azimuth [Km]
FIG 30 COMPRESSED NEAREST RIGHT AMIBIGUTY

Compressed furthest right ambiguity
-40
w/o pattern
A32PH planeE
A32PV planeH
A8PH planeE
A8PV planeH
-50
-60
Amplitude [dB]
The simulations performed to obtain the ambiguous

target levels in a SAR image by using these antennas
show a maximum level of 50dB lower than the level of
the corresponding real target. Although azimuth
pattern of the antenna with 32 elements has a
secondary lobe about -16dB in angle 60, due to it is
not processed with a matched filter, has a similar peak
response than nearer ambiguous targets, so from
ambiguities point of view further side lobes have
lower impact.
REFERENCES
-70
-80
Boerner, W.-M. et al.: Polarimetry in radar remote sensing:
-90
-100
-110
Basic and applied concepts in Henderson, F.M., and
-120
Lewis, A.J. (Eds.): Principles and applications of
-130
7
10
11
12
13
Azimuth [Km]
imaging radar. Volume 2.

Boerner, W.M.; Yamaguchi, Y., A state-of-the-art review in
FIG 31 COMPRESSED FURTHETS RIGHT AMIBIGUTY
radar polarimetry and its applications in remote sensing
The simulations performed to measure the ambiguous
IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, vol. 5,
95
antennas for Ku band.
no. 6, pp. 3-6, June 1990.

Cloude, S.R.; Pottier, E., A review of target decomposition
theorems in radar polarimetry. Geoscience and Remote
Sensing, IEEE Transactions on , vol.34, no.2, pp.498-518,
Mar 1996.
Currie, A.; Brown, M. A., "Wide-swath SAR," Radar and
Signal Processing, IEE Proceedings F , vol.139, no.2,
pp.122,135, Apr 1992
Del Castillo Mena, J. Sanchez Sevilleja, S., Larraaga Sudupe,
J.R., Modular
RF design for QUASAR Ku-Band
Polarimetric SAR system. Proceedings of EuRAD 2010.

Gonzalez Bonilla, M. J., Gomez Miguel, B., Cuerda Muoz, J.
M., Larraaga Sudupe, J. R., Garcia Rodriguez, Marcos,
INTASAR PROGRAM, Proceedings IGARSS 2009.
L.M.Hilliard,
J.Mead,
R.Rincon,
P.H.Hildebrand,
Lightweight Linear Broadband Antennas enabling

small UAV Wing Systems ans Space flight nanosat
Concept.
Sabban, A.,A new broadband stacked two-layer microstrip
antenna, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symp. Digest,
pp. 63-66, May 1983.
Sevilleja, S.S., L. Sudupe, J.R., Design of Multilayer Stacked
Patch Array With Waveguide Feeding Network For High
Power SAR 3rd European Conference on Antennas and
Propagation, March 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Soumekh, M. Synthetic Aperture Radar Signal Processing
with MATLAB Algorithms. John Wiley & Sons, Inc,
USA, 1999.
S. Snchez-Sevilleja was born in Madrid,
Spain in 1982. She received the
Telecommunication engineer degree and
the PhD
Master
in systems
and
communications
from Universidad
Politcnica de Madrid (UPM), in 2007 and
2011, respectively. Currently she is
realizing her PhD Thesis on active and reconfigurable arrays
96
She worked in Radiation Group of Department of Signal,

Systems and Radio-communications of UPM in an IFF radar
antenna and EADS Casa-Espacio as Antenna and RF
engineer in space-related projects. From 2008 she works
in Spanish Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) in
antenna and RF projects for radar applications. She has been
author and co-author of more than 12 national and
international papers in journals and conferences. Her
research works include active arrays antennas, planar
antennas and beam forming.
A. Arenas-Pingarrn was born in
Madrid, Spain in 1982. He received the
Telecommunication engineer degree in
2006 and the PhD Master in systems and
communications
in
2013,
both
from Universidad
Politcnica
de
Madrid. He has worked in Spanish
Institute of Aerospace Technology
(INTA) in the field of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). His
main interests are SAR systems (processing and simulation),
Time-Frequency distributions and Sonar.
J. Del Castillo-Mena was born in Madrid
in
1983.
He
received
the
Telecommunication engineer degree
from ETSIT UPM in 2006. He works as
radar system engineer for INTA SAR
Radar laboratory since 2006, where he
focus on radar MW subsystem
development and synthetic aperture
radar characterisation and calibration. Since 2008 he is also
working on PAZ mission being part of technical assistance to
Space segment provider and CALVAL centre team. He is
also studying a MSc in communication systems and
technology at Madrid Polytechnic University.
J.R. Larraaga-Sudupe was born in Azkoitia, Spain in 1966.
He
received
the
Telecommunication
engineer
degree from Universidad Politcnica de Madrid (UPM),
in 1992. He is working on development of Synthetic
Aperture Radar systems since 1993. Head of Radar
Laboratory and SAR program at INTA since 2005. Currently,
he is involved in the development of advanced SAR systems
for unmanned platforms.

A Novel and Compact Ku-Band Sensor For Polarimetric SAR Systems Placed in UAVs: Development and System Performances

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A Novel and Compact Ku-Band Sensor For Polarimetric SAR Systems Placed in UAVs: Development and System Performances

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International Journal of Remote Sensing Applications Volume 4 Issue 2, June 2014