Antenna Model with Pattern Optimization Based on Genetic Algorithm for Satellite-Based SAR Mission

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 25; no. 15; p. 4835
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Sevilleja, Saray, García-Rodríguez, Marcos, Masa-Campos, José Luis, Cuerda-Muñoz, Juan Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06.08.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Accuracy; beams; Calibration; Design; excitations; genetic algorithm; Genetic algorithms; Geometry; Optimization; phased arrays; Radiation; satellite-based SAR; Satellites; beams; genetic algorithm; phased arrays; antenna model; optimization; satellite-based SAR; excitations
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s25154835

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems are of paramount importance to remote sensing applications, including Earth observation and environmental monitoring. Accurate calibration of these systems is imperative to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the acquired data. A central component of the calibration process is the antenna model, which serves as a fundamental reference for characterizing the radiation pattern, gain, and overall performance of SAR systems. The present paper sets out to describe the implementation and validation of a phased-array antenna model for Synthetic Aperture Radar Systems (SARAS) in MATLAB R2024a. The antenna model was developed for utilization in the Spanish Earth observation missions PAZ and PRECURSOR-ECO. The antenna model incorporates a number of functions, which are divided into two primary modules: the first of these is the antenna pattern generation (APG) module, and the second is the antenna excitation generation (AEG) module. The present document focuses on the AEG, the function of which is to generate patterns for all required beams. These patterns are optimized and matched to specific calculated masks using an ad hoc genetic algorithm (GA). In consideration of the aforementioned factors, the AEG module generates a set of complex excitations corresponding to the required beam from different satellite operational beams, based on several radiometrically defined parameters.