Model based ISAR ship classification

This paper presents an investigation of ISAR image classification based on a comparison of range-Doppler imagery to 3D ship reference models. This comparison is performed in the image domain by estimating the motion of a sequency of ISAR images, generating 3D reference models corresponding to the same motion and matching the models with the given ISAR images. The effect of estimation error in the motion parameters was also investigated, and it was found that the accuracy of the yaw motion estimate is critical; the technique can tolerate a relative larger error of the roll/pitch motion.