Mapping of a 2D SAR Backprojection Algorithm to an SRC Reconfigurable Computing MAP Processor

This paper describes the performance gain of a twodimensional Synthetic Aperture Radar (2-D SAR) Backprojection algorithm running on a Compact MAP processor compared to a MATLAB and C implementation of the algorithm. The Spotlight Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Backprojection algorithm is considered to be the “gold standard” of the SAR imaging techniques. Originally written in MATLAB, the compute intensive routines of the algorithm were converted into C Language and compiled using SRC’s Carte Programming Environment, which targets the MAP reconfigurable hardware. The algorithm was then benchmarked on the Compact MAP processor in order to demonstrate processor performance in a small form factor suitable for man portable or small Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) applications.