Structure Optimisation of the Amplitude Four-antenna Direction Finder with High Accuracy and Unambiguous Measurements

It is proposed to resolve the contradiction between the range of unambiguous measurement angles and the accuracy of the amplitude direction finder by using two pairs of antennas with different sizes of radiation patterns. The statistical theory of synthesizing optimal signal processing algorithms in radio engineering systems, in particular the method of maximum likelihood function, was used to analyze the idea of expanding the range of operating angles without losing accuracy. In contrast to existing approaches, the discriminative characteristics of a four-antenna direction finder are analyzed over the entire range of angles, not just in the linear section. Optimal signal processing algorithms are synthesized and analytical expressions for the discriminative characteristics of the direction finder are investigated. Various combinations of pairs of antennas of a four-antenna direction finder were investigated by simulation modeling.