Design and Analysis of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Radar System Based on RF Single-Link Technology

Abstract

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar is playing an important role in military and civilian fields. However, radio frequency (RF) multi-links have a large data-processing capacity and the system is bulky and complex. Therefore, a single-link RF MIMO has been the subject of heated discussed in recent years. Single-link technology shares the same regularity with that of the multi-link MIMO system, which makes the MIMO system simpler in structure without affecting its performance. In this study, a 2 × 2 array single RF link MIMO radar at X band was designed by combining MIMO radar with the concept of a single RF link in the communication field, and a simulation platform for studying its properties was established using SystemVue software. The whole system is controlled by the exclusive OR (XOR) operation results of two transmission signals, and one signal can control the antenna-switching signal to form a variety of orthogonal bases. The received two original signals are demodulated and the control signals enter the corresponding matched filters. The signal is processed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT) and the cell-averaging constant false alarm rate algorithm (CA-CFAR) is used to judge the signal. For multiple measurements, the Monte Carlo method was adopted to obtain its mean value as the final result. Compared with the traditional MIMO radar performance in acquiring the target position, speed, and detection probability, the results show that the computation time can be greatly reduced (due to decrease in the number of links in MIMO radar system) without any deterioration in the MIMO radar performance. The single RF link technology provides a broad prospect for the miniaturization of small radar applications