Frequency scanning antenna concept with random feed lengths

A block diagram of a radar architecture to support a frequency scanning antenna with random length feed lines was developed. The feasibility of the architecture to perform target localization in position and velocity was investigated by analyzing 1-d antenna patterns and costs functions based upon an L2-norm. A large trade space exists between adding complexity to the radar system versus simplifying the signal processing. For this paper, a single realization of the system was selected, then simulated. The results indicate that the concept is feasible, but requires high SNR and a small number of targets for unambiguous results. This concept can be extended from a single array to multiple subarrays for improved performance and to reduced requirements on the delay line lengths and the percent bandwidth of the system with the cost of additional data acquisition hardware and increased computational complexity.