DLR's SAR Processor Development An Interim Report

This paper describes DLR’s prototype implementation of the well known Range-Doppler algorithm onto a distributed hardware system, consisting of a UNIX-workstation as server, an array processor and a large semiconductor memory. Bearing in mind the problems in implementing software on distributed hardware and furthermore, the ideas of modem software engineering in terms of software reusability, maintainability etc., Ada was chosen as the implementation language. Based upon simulation results (which are also presented), the kemel SAR processor layout has been fixed in view of the generation of a three-look ERS-1 image product. To prove the processor functions and to evaluate the processor quality, a SEASAT scene was used as a first, real test example. The processor prototype, written in Ada, and the achieved results are presented.