A Target Near-Field Scattering Measurement Technique Utilizing 3D Near-Field Imaging via Cylindrical Scanning

Radar target near-field scattering characteristics are essential for the identification of target properties and the improvement of target recognition. Nevertheless, the efficiency of current precision three-dimensional (3D) imaging algorithms in near-field scattering measurements is restricted by their substantial computational complexity. To resolve this matter, we propose a hybrid 3D imaging algorithm that is optimized for cylindrical sampling and operates in both the wavenumber domain and time domain (WDTD). Wavenumber domain algorithms are initially utilized for the rapid localization of strong scattering sources. Subsequently, morphological image analysis techniques are employed to delineate the regions containing strong scattering sources. Ultimately, accurate calculations are performed utilizing backpropagation (BP) in time domain algorithms. This method significantly reduces the computational burden while maintaining imaging accuracy by integrating rapid scattering source extraction with precise computation for critical regions. The proposed capacity to accomplish efficient and precise 3D imaging is effectively demonstrated by the experimental results, which effectively mitigate the computational challenges associated with traditional algorithms. Furthermore, the method effectively reconstructs near-field echoes of scattering sources, underscoring its potential for decoupling target–background interactions. The versatility of this method is further demonstrated by its ability to be applied to other 3D imaging configurations, which illustrates its potential to advance radar imaging technologies and near-field scattering research.