Effect of errors on the directional characteristics of a phased antenna array with an arbitrary arrangement of elements

Abstract

Currently, various types of antenna arrays (AA) are widely used in radio navigation, radar and telecommunication systems. They have a number of advantages related to the possibilities of electronic control of their characteristics and adaptation to signal-interference conditions compared to single emitters. To create the required shape of the radiation pattern, as well as the orientation of its maximum in space, it is necessary to send signals of a certain amplitude and phase to the AA elements, so to form an appropriate amplitude-phase distribution (APD). The error in setting the APD, along with errors in the alignment and determination of the position of the phase centers of individual emitters, have a significant impact on the parameters and characteristics of the AA. Errors in the installation of elements on the canvas of the AA and the deviation of their power supply from the calculated APD lead to a decrease in characteristics, which can be assessed by three criteria: a decrease in directivity (antenna gain); an increase in the level of the side lobes; a change in the accuracy of the installation and the shape of the main beam. An analytical expression for calculating the error can be obtained only for cases of an ordered arrangement of AA elements. The article presents the results of the analysis of the influence of technological errors on the directional characteristics of an AA with an arbitrary arrangement of antenna elements. Statistical averaging of an ensemble of realizations obtained by performing multiple calculations with random sets of parameters is used for the analysis. The laws of probability distribution can be any. The results of calculations for uniformly distributed errors are given as an example.