Echo signal modeling of imaging LADAR target simulator

LADAR guidance technology is one of the most promising precision guidance technologies. In the aim of simulating the return waveform of the target, a 3D geometrical model of a target is built and mathematical model of target echo signal for imaging LADAR target simulator is established by using the coordinate transformation, radar equation and ranging equation. First, the 3D geometrical data of the object model is obtained by 3D geometrical modeling. Then, target coordinate system and viewpoint coordinate system are created respectively. 3D geometrical model is built in the target coordinate system. The 3D geometrical model is transformed to the viewpoint coordinate system based on the derived relationship between the two coordinate systems. Furthermore, the range information of the target could be obtained under viewpoint coordinate system. Thus, the data of the target echo signal can be obtained by using radar equation and ranging equation. Finally, the echo signal can be exported through corresponding data interface. In order to validate the method proposed in this paper, the echo signal generated by a typical target is computed and compared with the theory solutions. The signals can be applied to drive target simulator to generate a physical target LADAR image.