A Channel Error Calibration Method for Circular Array Radar Based on Curve Fitting

Channel error calibration for circular array radar can be found in many areas, such as target detection and safety surveillance. Due to curved distribution of each array element, conventional channel error correction instruments for planar array radar is no longer suitable for curved array system. Currently, mechanical correction methods for curved arrays are generally sophisticated, expensive and low efficiency. This manuscript provides a new and convenient channel error correction method for circular array radar system based on pattern fitting. Through constructions of approximation function model of single unit pattern and pattern fitting model of full array concerning physical parameters of radar, channel errors of all elements can be estimated through solving a related optimization model. After the signals fed to each element are compensated by estimated error correction factors, synthetic radiation pattern of full array can be accurately corrected. The proposed method can significantly improve beam synthesis performance of circular array radar and experiment results validate the effectiveness of suggested strategy.