Phased array radar beamforming method based on MIMO radar covariance

A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar is an emerging field which has attracted many researchers recently. In this type of radar, unlike an standard phased array radar, one can choose transmitted probing signals freely to maximize the power around the locations of the targets of interest, or more generally to approximate a given transmit beam-pattern, or to minimize the cross-correlation of the signals reflected back to the radar by the targets of interest. These signals can be correlated to each other or noncorrelated. Many papers have investigated beampattern design and waveforming in MIMO radars. One of the most famous approaches for beampattern design is named covariance based method which design cross-correlation matrix of transmitted signals instead of the signals. On the other hand, many papers have investigated beamforming of an standard phased array radar in different ways. In this paper it is desirable to design beampattern of a phased array radar by means of the MIMO radar covariance based beampattern design method, as a special case of general MIMO radar. Although many approaches are available for beamforming of phased array radar this approach would have less complexity compare to them. MATLAB software is being employed for simulations.