Joint optimization of waveforms and transmit array for colocated MIMO radar

Abstract

For colocated multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar, we are often interested in designing a desirable transmit beampattern while keeping a low autocorrelation and cross-correlation sidelobe level of illuminated waveforms. Different from existing works, a colocated MIMO radar with an unequally spaced linear transmit array is considered in this paper. A optimization criterion which jointly optimizes the MIMO waveforms and the spaces among the transmit array elements is proposed. The transmit array location relaxation provides more degrees of freedom for sidelobe suppression, so better results can be achieved. Numerical results indicate that, with the same number of antennas, a wider array aperture can be achieved, so that a higher angular resolution can be obtained. Meanwhile, a better transmit beampattern matching and a lower sidelobe level can be achieved, compared with methods without array location optimization.