Determining Installation Errors for DOA Estimation with Four-Quadrant Monopulse Arrays by Using Installed Element Patterns

The four-quadrant monopulse array is widely used for direction of arrival (DOA) estimation. Errors in the angle estimate are introduced when installing the array on a platform, due to unwanted reflections in the platform, as well as reflection and refraction in the radome. These installation effects are captured in the installed element patterns, which can be computed using a number of computational electromagnetics methods. In this paper, we demonstrate that the error introduced in the DOA estimate can be determined from the installed element patterns. To illustrate how the method is used, we present results for two cases: (a) BoR-array without radome and (b) BoR-array with an extended hemispherical radome. The presented method can be applied for any installation configuration, as long as the installed element patterns can be computed.