An Exact Near-Field Model Based Localization for Bistatic MIMO Radar with COLD arrays

Most existing near-field (NF) source localization algorithms are developed based on the Fresnel approximation model, and assume that the spatial amplitudes of the target at the sensors are equal. Unlike these algorithms, an NF source parameter estimation algorithm is proposed, based on the exact spatial propagation geometry model, for bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar deployed with a linear concentered orthogonal loop and dipole (COLD) array at both the transmitter and receiver. The proposed method first compresses the output signal of the matched filter at the receiver into a third-order parallel factor (PARAFAC) data model, on which a trilinear decomposition is performed, and subsequently three factor matrices can be obtained. Then, multiple parameters of interest, including direction-of-departure (DOD), direction-of-arrival (DOA), range from transmitter to target (RFTT), range from target to receiver (RFTR), two-dimensional (2-D) transmit polarization angle (TPA) and 2-D receive polarization angle (RPA), are estimated from the spatial amplitude ratio exploiting the rotation invariant property and the Khatri-Rao product. Finally, the phase uncertainties of transmit and receive arrays can be extracted from additional phase items. The proposed algorithm avoids spectrum peak search, and the estimated parameters in closed forms can be automatically matched unambiguously. In addition, it is suitable for non-uniform linear arrays (NLA) with arbitrary array element spacing and phase uncertainty. Advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated by simulation results

Separate DOD and DOA Estimation for Bistatic MIMO Radar

A novel MUSIC-type algorithm is derived in this paper for the direction of departure (DOD) and direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in a bistatic MIMO radar. Through rearranging the received signal matrix, we illustrate that the DOD and the DOA can be separately estimated. Compared with conventional MUSIC-type algorithms, the proposed separate MUSIC algorithm can avoid the interference between DOD and DOA estimations effectively. Therefore, it is expected to give a better angle estimation performance and have a much lower computational complexity. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that our method is also effective for coherent targets in MIMO radar. Simulation results verify the efficiency of the proposed method, particularly when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low and/or the number of snapshots is small

The Bi-directional Spatial Spectrum for MIMO Radar and Its Applications

<p>Radar systems have long applied electronically-steered phased arrays to discriminate returns in azimuth angle and elevation angle. On receiver arrays, beamforming is performed after reception of the data, allowing for many adaptive array processing algorithms to be employed. However, on transmitter arrays, up until recently pre-determined phase shifts had to applied to each transmitter element before transmission, precluding adaptive transmit array processing schemes. Recent advances in multiple-input multiple-output radar techniques have allowed for transmitter channels to separated after data reception, allowing for virtual non-causal "after-the-fact" transmit beamforming. The ability to discriminate in both direction-of-arrival and direction-of-departure allows for the novel ability to discriminate line-of-sight returns from multipath returns. This works extends the concept of virtual non-causal transmit beamforming to the broader concept of a bi-directional spatial spectrum, and describes application of such a spectrum to applications such as spread-Doppler multipath clutter mitigation in ground-vehicle radar, and calibration of a receiver array of a MIMO system with ground clutter only. Additionally, for this work, a low-power MIMO radar testbed was developed for lab testing of MIMO radar concepts.</p>Dissertatio

Characterisation of MIMO radio propagation channels

Due to the incessant requirement for higher performance radio systems, wireless designers have been constantly seeking ways to improve spectrum efficiency, link reliability, service quality, and radio network coverage. During the past few years, space-time technology which employs multiple antennas along with suitable signalling schemes and receiver architectures has been seen as a powerful tool for the implementation of the aforementioned requirements. In particular, the concept of communications via Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) links has emerged as one of the major contending ideas for next generation ad-hoc and cellular systems. This is inherently due to the capacities expected when multiple antennas are employed at both ends of the radio link. Such a mobile radio propagation channel constitutes a MIMO system. Multiple antenna technologies and in particular MIMO signalling are envisaged for a number of standards such as the next generation of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology known as 802.1 ln and the development of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) project, such as the 802.16e. For the efficient design, performance evaluation and deployment of such multiple antenna (space-time) systems, it becomes increasingly important to understand the characteristics of the spatial radio channel. This criterion has led to the development of new sounding systems, which can measure both spatial and temporal channel information. In this thesis, a novel semi-sequential wideband MIMO sounder is presented, which is suitable for high-resolution radio channel measurements. The sounder produces a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) or chirp signal with variable bandwidth, centre frequency and waveform repetition rate. It has programmable bandwidth up to 300 MHz and waveform repetition rates up to 300 Hz, and could be used to measure conventional high- resolution delay/Doppler information as well as spatial channel information such as Direction of Arrival (DOA) and Direction of Departure (DOD). Notably the knowledge of the angular information at the link ends could be used to properly design and develop systems such as smart antennas. This thesis examines the theory of multiple antenna propagation channels, the sounding architecture required for the measurement of such spatial channel information and the signal processing which is used to quantify and analyse such measurement data. Over 700 measurement files were collected corresponding to over 175,000 impulse responses with different sounder and antenna array configurations. These included measurements in the Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems Frequency Division Duplex (UMTS-FDD) uplink band, the 2.25 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands allocated for studio broadcast MIMO video links, and the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz ISM bands allocated for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) activity as well as for a wide range of future systems defined in the WiMAX project. The measurements were collected predominantly for indoor and some outdoor multiple antenna channels using sounding signals with 60 MHz, 96 MHz and 240 MHz bandwidth. A wide range of different MIMO antenna array configurations are examined in this thesis with varying space, time and frequency resolutions. Measurements can be generally subdivided into three main categories, namely measurements at different locations in the environment (static), measurements while moving at regular intervals step by step (spatial), and measurements while the receiver (or transmitter) is on the move (dynamic). High-scattering as well as time-varying MIMO channels are examined for different antenna array structures

Efficient method of estimating Direction of Arrival (DOA) in communications systems.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban.In wireless communications systems, estimation of Direction of Arrival (DOA) has been used both for military and commercial purposes. The signal whose DOA is being estimated, could be a signal that has been reflected from a moving or stationary object, or a signal that has been generated from unwanted or illegal transmitter. When combined with estimating time of arrival, it is also possible to pinpoint the location of a target in space. Localization in space can also be achieved by estimating DOA using two receiving nodes with capability of estimating DOA. The beamforming pattern in smart antenna system is adjusted to emphasize the desired signal and to minimize the interference signal. Therefore, DOA estimation algorithms are critical for estimating the Angle of Arrival (AOA) and beamforming in smart antennas. This dissertation investigates the performance, angular accuracy and resolution of the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR), Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) and our proposed method Advanced Multiple Signal Classification (A-MUSIC) as DOA algorithms on both Non-Uniform Array (NLA) and Uniform Linear Array (ULA). DOA is critical in antenna design for emphasizing the desired signal and minimizing interference. The scarcity of radio spectrum has fuelled the migration of communication networks to higher frequencies. This has resulted into radio propagation challenges due to the adverse environmental elements otherwise unexperienced at lower frequencies. In rainfall-impacted environments, DOA estimation is greatly affected by signal attenuation and scattering at the higher frequencies. Therefore, new DOA algorithms cognisant of these factors need to be developed and the performance of the existing algorithms quantified. This work investigates the performance of the Conventional Minimum Variance Distortion-less Look (MVDL), Subspace DOA Estimation Methods of Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) and the developed hybrid DOA algorithm on a weather impacted wireless channel. The performance of the proposed Advanced-MUSIC (A-MUSIC) algorithm is compared to the conventional DOA estimation algorithms of Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) and the Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) algorithms for both NLA and ULA antenna arrays. The developed simulation results show that A-MUSIC shows superior performance compared to the two other algorithms in terms of Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) and the number of antenna elements. The results show performance degradation in a rainfall impacted communication network with the developed algorithm showing better performance degradation