The department of SAR Technology in engaged in the operation of the institute’s airborne SAR system E-SAR, the construction of its improved successor F-SAR, as well as in the processing of the data acquired with these two sensors. The main research topics are the development and demonstration of new radar techniques and antennas, SAR processing as well as SAR polarimetry, interferometry and tomography.
The E-SAR system is operated on-board a Do-228 aircraft. E-SAR campaigns are performed for SME companies, universities, research institutes, as well as for European and international agencies. Due to the strong customer demand for high-resolution multimodal SAR data, a new and improved airborne SAR system, the F-SAR, is currently under development. The new system should entirely replace the E-SAR until 2010.
The research work performed with the E-SAR system delivers essential contributions for future space-borne SAR systems. The E-SAR system is used to simulate SAR data of future satellite SAR systems as well as to demonstrate new techniques (e.g. bi-static SAR or SAR tomography). An important research task of the department is the development of sensor-related applications, based e.g. on SAR polarimetry or tomography.
The department is divided into four groups, representing the entire end-to-end system expertise for airborne SAR within DLR. The groups are working closely together and contributing to the development of new concepts and techniques for satellite SAR projects in the other departments of the Institute.