Abstract: Detailed is radar imaging apparatus including a single transmit antenna and at least one receive antenna, scanning apparatus (e.g. a pantograph) for mechanically scanning the antennas over a surface of interest, position providing apparatus (e.g. a computer driving the pantograph via an X-Y drive and a stepper motor) providing a position signal indicative of the instantaneous position of the transceiver and a control system for operating the transmit antenna in a stepped frequency continuous wave mode. The amplitude and phase components of the receive antenna signal are analysed and the output combined with the position signal as in a synthetic aperture array to provide a radar image signal of the surface and underlying features. The scan is two-dimensional (random or boustrophedral).

Abstract: A radar transceiver (4, 5) is mounted on a pantograph (31) for scanning over a surface of interest so that sub-surface features may be investigated and imaged. A computer controls at least one stepper motor driving an X-Y scanner (34) for determining the location and operation of the pantograph. The arrangement is useful in a SAR stepped frequency continuous wave imaging system using a two-dimensional boustrophedral or random scan of the surface and analysing both amplitude and phase components of the received signal.