Abstract:

In order to reduce the array element number and hardware complexity for the multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) imaging radar system, a nonlinear array model is proposed based on the combination of two linear arrays and its design rule is given, associated with the angle and signal diversity properties of multiple sparsely-located transmitters and receivers. Different from the wideband MIMO radar imaging system based on real aperture uniform linear array, the proposed nonlinear array model can increase the virtual array element number and enlarge the array aperture, and so can effectively reduce the dimension and hardware complexity of the real aperture uniform  linear array without any obvious variety of cross-range imaging equality. Meanwhile, this array design can be implemented and achieved easily. Finally, simulation experiments show the effectiveness of this array model.