Coherent information accumulation from virtual MIMO radars with multiple increase of interelement distances in the real MIMO radar

Abstract

To reduce the number of air carriers when using MIMO radars, it is advisable to reduce the number of transmitting and receiving elements (TLE and RTE) of real MIMO radars, as well as the use of virtual MIMO radars. The reduction in the number of TLE and RTE can be achieved by increasing the distances between them to values significantly exceeding the average radiation wavelength. In this case, it is necessary to theoretically estimate the spatial resolution and accuracy of the measured coordinates in the selected system of virtual MIMO radars corresponding to real MIMO radars with spatially highly rarefied TLE and RTE. For short-range MIMO radars, using theoretical expressions for the generalized uncertainty function (GUF) in the case of a fixed point target, two-dimensional and one-dimensional sections of GUF in the “range–azimuth” plane are determined, which are compared for variants of moderate and highly rarefied two-dimensional arrangements of TLE and RTE of real and virtual MIMO antennas. The proposed mathematical technique allows you to quickly evaluate the resolution in range and azimuth in the development and creation of real and virtual MIMO radars with increased inter-element distances.