Solving for ambiguities in radar geophysical exploration of planetary bodies by mimicking bats echolocation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 29269728.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-017-02334-1 and PMC identifier 5740182.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Sounders are spaceborne radars which are widely employed for geophysical exploration of celestial bodies around the solar system. They provide unique information regarding the subsurface structure and composition of planets and their moons. The acquired data are often affected by unwanted artifacts, which hinder the data interpretation conducted by geophysicists. Bats possess a remarkable ability in discriminating between a prey, such as a quick-moving insect, and unwanted clutter (e.g., foliage) by effectively employing their bio-sonar perfected in million years of evolution. Striking analogies occur between the characteristics of bats sonar and the one of a radar sounder. Here we propose an adaptation of the unique bat clutter discrimination capability to radar sounding by devising a novel clutter detection model. The proposed bio-inspired strategy proves its effectiveness on Mars experimental data and paves the way for a new generation of sounders which eases the data interpretation by planetary scientists.