Ricerc@Sapienza

Approximate numerical modeling of microwave bistatic scattering (BS) from anisotropic rough surfaces, simulating large baselines radar bistatic system, is analyzed in this contribution. The investigation is performed in the framework of the SAOCOM-CS scientific satellite mission, a small satellite under design by the European Space Agency, to be associated with the Argentinian SAOCOM 1B satellite, aiming at collecting bistatic radar data at L-band. Similar bistatic concepts are being investigated at C-band as well.

We present and discuss an electromagnetic model for the description of the coherent scattering from bare soils illuminated by a radar system under arbitrary bistatic geometries. The scattering problem is solved under the Kirchhoff approximation (KA) accounting for both the sphericity of the wavefront of the incident wave and the radiation pattern of the transmitting and receiving antennas. We propose here a general formulation and solution of the scattering problem applicable to an arbitrary bistatic geometry.

The mono-static Radar Cross Section (RCS) of a commercial Drone (IRIS) has been simulated and measured. For simulations, the electromagnetic CAD Microwave Studio by CST has been used. This software allows to accurately model the drone geometry and material complex permittivity. Measurements have been performed in an anechoic chamber equipped with a network analyzer and a horn antenna. The foreseen applications are the localization of drones in critical scenarios by using both passive and conventional radars.