Generation of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Radar Waveforms

MIMO is an innovative radar technique that can provide angle and velocity resolution advantages in phased array radars such as OTH systems. TSC plans to: 1) identify the architectural design requirements for signal generation and matched / mismatched filtering, and 2) develop simulations predicting the performance of the proposed system architecture. TSC will investigate the issues pertaining to simultaneously generating and coherently processing a large number of transmitted and received waveforms. TSC’s approach for generating the WFs and mismatched filters is unique and powerful, and has been successfully demonstrated on several different radar programs. We will start by using various candidate WF modulations as seed functions. We will then use our mature search and constrained optimization tools to find the best set of waveforms and mismatched filters for the weighted Doppler tolerance, peak and integrated sidelobe level, resolution degradation and SNR loss, and other criteria. We will also investigate the effects of propagation and hardware (e.g. the antenna, transmitter and receiver) on the performance of the waveforms. In this manner, the user will be able to tailor the WFs to best suit an individual surveillance requirement.