Ambiguity resolution in self-cohering arrays

Two approaches to resolving the phase ambiguity associated with phase multilateration of self-cohering antenna arrays are described and the probability of ambiguity error is derived for each approach. For the minimum least square error method an efficient computational technique is introduced which permits element position uncertainties as large as one wavelength in the presence of phase measurement errors in the order of one rad. The multiple frequency method permits element position uncertainties significantly larger than one wavelength, at some increase in bandwidth. The probability of ambiguity error is shown to be acceptably small if the root mean square (rms) phase measurement errors are in the order of 0.5 rad or smaller.