Ultra wideband multiple-input multiple-output radar

Abstract

The utilization of ultra wideband (UWB) signals enables the radar designer to solve the most important problems of radar target observation. The extremely wide bandwidth enables greater information to be obtained due to high time resolution and the frequency dependence of the scattering centers over this large bandwidth. Increase in the radar's signal bandwidth can improve radar performance by providing better range measurement accuracy, improving the target identification and tracking capability, improving radar immunity to passive interference, and enhancing radar countermeasure against narrowband electromagnetic signal interference. Recently there have been many advances in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems in communications. These diversity systems have been shown to have the potential to dramatically improve the performance of the communications systems. Unlike the traditional beamforming approach, which uses highly correlated signals of an array of transmitting or receiving antenna elements to collimate a beam towards a certain direction in space, MIMO capitalizes on the independence between signals from different transmitters and on the diversity of target scattering to improve the information received from the response, Motivated by the advances and benefits of MIMO in communications and advantages of using UWB signals, this paper presents the experimental investigation of UWB-MIMO radars. The analysis of such radars has been carried out to demonstrate its promising features in terms of better target identification and improved signal to noise ratio (SNR).