Angle Accuracy in Radar Target Simulation

Abstract

Radar target simulators (RTSs) have recently drawn much attention in research and commercial development, as they are capable of performing over-the-air validation tests under laboratory conditions by generating virtual radar echoes that are perceived as targets by a radar under test (RuT). The estimated angle of arrival (AoA) of such a virtual target is controlled, among others, by the physical position of the respective RTS channel that generates it. In this contribution the authors investigate the achievable angle accuracy of RTS systems in dependence of their channel spacing and calibration. This allows to derive the number of RTS channels required given the field of view of the RuT and the desired angle accuracy. For this purpose, a signal model is developed that incorporates the angular positions of the RTS channels and thereby allows an estimation of the achievable angle accuracy under consideration of coherence conditions. The signal model is verified by a measurement campaign.