Distributed UAV-SAR: A Distributed Drone-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar System for the Investigation and Demonstration of Novel Applications, Imaging Algorithms and Future Spaceborne Radar Concepts

In the paper DLR's distributed drone-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system Distributed UAV-SAR is introduced and technical details and challenges are discussed. The system consists of several octocopters, each equipped with a multi-channel and reconfigurable software defined SAR sensor and an accurate custom build localization unit with integrated radar synchronization capabilities. For joint radar data acquisition the octocopters need to fly safely in closed formation with pre-defined and controlled 3D distances. The radars, which are operated jointly and simultaneously, must be synchronized to ensure coherent radar data acquisitions. This is a basic requirement for obtaining high-quality and high-resolution multi-static radar images with low phase errors and disturbances. The Distributed UAV-SAR system is currently under development and will be fully operational in 2026. It will be used for the investigation and demonstration of novel radar applications, radar imaging algorithms and future spaceborne radar concepts.