Analysis of a Minimalistic Imaging Radar Concept Employing Beam Shape Switching and Compressed Sensing

This research investigates a unique radar concept based on a frequency-sweeping stepped-frequency continuous-wave (SFCW) radar with a two-element antenna array. The suggested array can switch between a notched and a broad beam shape. Regarding target discrimination and locating accuracy, we compare this radar system to three-element and four-element frequency-sweeping SFCW radars. Compressed sensing methods are used to reconstruct images and evaluate the performance of various antenna arrays. The range resolution for the proposed two-element beam shape switching antenna system with a bandwidth of 10 GHz is noteworthy—10 mm for point targets and 20 mm for extended targets. This range resolution is two times that of the larger aperture three-element array and four times that of the four-element array. Notably, the range resolution beats the theoretical range resolution due to the use of compressed sensing to combine information from the two beam shapes. Furthermore, the suggested system outperforms previous antenna arrays regarding angular resolution, especially when targets are close in range and angle. With a 10 mm range distance and a 2° angle difference, the system effectively discriminates three targets. In a triple-target scenario, the suggested two-element beam shape switching system outperforms a standard four-element phased array radar with the same bandwidth even with restricted computational resources.