Abstract:Airborne area-array whisk-broom imaging systems often adopt constant-speed scanning schemes. For large-inertia scanning systems, constant-speed scanning consumes a significant amount of time to complete the reversal motion, limiting the system's adaptability to high-speed reversal scanning and restricting scanning efficiency. This study proposed a novel sinusoidal variable-speed roll scanning strategy, which reduced abrupt changes in speed and acceleration, minimizing time loss during reversals. Based on the forward image motion compensation strategy in the pitch direction, a line-of-sight (LOS) position calculation model with vertical flight path correction (VFPC) was established, ensuring that the central LOS of the scanned image remained stable on the same horizontal line, which was conducive to accurate image stitching in whisk-broom imaging. Through theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, the proposed method improved scanning efficiency by approximately 18.6% at a 90° whisk-broom imaging angle under the same speed height ratio conditions. The new VFPC method enables wide-field, high-resolution imaging, achieving single-line LOS horizontal stability with an accuracy better than 0.4 mrad. The research work of this thesis is of great significance to promote the further development of airborne area-array whisk-broom imaging technology toward wider fields of view, higher speed height ratios, and greater scanning efficiency.