Plenary Speakers

In a changing and dynamic world, high-resolution and timely geospatial information with global coverage and access is becoming increasingly important. Among many different space-based sensor technologies, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) plays an essential role in this task as it is the only sensor technology which provides high-resolution imagery on a global scale independent of the weather conditions and solar illumination.

This talk will first provide an overview on the state of the art in spaceborne SAR. A prominent example is the TanDEM-X mission, the first bistatic radar in space consisting of two satellites in close formation flight. With a typical separation between the satellites of 150 to 400 m a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) has been generated and is available for scientific and commercial applications since September 2016. All specifications for the final DEM product of TanDEM-X were achieved and even surpassed, confirming the excellent quality of the bi-static radar instruments, the interferometric processing and the data calibration.

The second part of this talk describes the paradigm shift is taking place in spaceborne SAR systems. The rapidly growing user community poses demanding requirements for data with higher spatial resolution, wider coverage and higher timeliness, which push the development of new technologies to achieve a wide-swath high-resolution imaging. New antenna and SAR instrument concepts with multichannel and digital beamforming will boost the performance of future SAR systems by at least one order of magnitude. Examples include ALOS-4 (JAXA), NISAR (NASA/ISRO), ROSE-L and Sentinel-1NG (ESA/EC).

Augmenting complex SAR missions with global coverage, low-cost, lightweight SAR systems based on NewSpace concepts are being implemented with the aim of imaging small areas with a very short revisit time. The combination of full-fledged SAR systems with disruptive NewSpace SAR concepts leads to new system approaches for multistatic SAR missions with enhanced imaging capabilities. One example is the MirrorSAR concept, which consists of a main satellite and several small, receive-only satellites using a space transponder concept. Further opportunities arise for distributed SAR system concepts using a multistatic configuration. By this, the information content in the multi dimensional data space is increased, opening the door to a new class of information products like 3D differential SAR interferometry, polarimetric SAR interferometry and tomography.

The talk concludes with a vision for spaceborne SAR. The ultimate goal for spaceborne SAR remote sensing is the deployment of a space-based sensor network consisting of a radar observatory with a constellation of satellites capable of providing real-time geospatial information as an essential contribution to solving global societal challenges related to climate change, sustainable development, resource scarcity, land use, food security, environmental protection, disaster monitoring, and civil and military security.

Of all the radio system types that occupy the electromagnetic spectrum, perhaps none are so important while also being so generally misunderstood, even within technical communities, as radars. Radar technology, the revolutionary innovation that the Allies leveraged to win the Second World War, gained a notoriety and reputation for mystery and secrecy in those years that it has never entirely shaken. To this day, radar systems are frequently the subject of poorly informed debates and exchanges regarding their spectrum use, their spectrum needs, and their potential for coexistence (or not) with other radio systems. This talk’s introduction provides a
historical perspective on radar spectrum use and engineering, beginning with some of the author’s world-spanning adventures in measuring radar spectra and resolving radar-related interference problems from the 1980s to the present. Recognizing the unique characteristics of radars that distinguish them from all other radio systems (including the highest effective
radiated power levels combined with the most exquisitely sensitive receivers), the author lays out the direction in which spectrum management and coexistence requirements between radars and other radio systems are now moving. The challenges to designing, developing and
operating radars are far greater now than they have ever been in the past. Simultaneously, the collective needs for radars, in remote sensing; air and maritime traffic surveillance and management; surveillance and defense; and other applications are also greater than at any
time in the past. The author concludes with his own outlook, and conclusions, on how to meet these needs and challenges as we move into a new world.

The rapid increase in capability and prevalence of autonomous systems is driving demand for new and better sensors.  Radar has always held a prestigious position among sensor suites as one of the only all-weather long-range modalities.  However, the missions and environments for autonomous systems are now demanding higher performance than most traditional radars architectures can provide.  Phased array radars – including MIMO phased arrays – are capable of the high performance required, but historically have been out of reach for all but the most exclusive systems, due to their cost and complexity.  This talk will outline the growing opportunity for next-generation radar sensors across multiple markets.  We will look at major trends and progress advancing phased array technology, as well as examine key challenges and inevitable design tradeoffs.  We’ll end with an optimistic outlook for areas that seem poised for breakthrough and market success.