Investigation of the Angle Dependency of Self-Calibration in Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output Radars

Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) is a key technology in improving the angular resolution (spatial resolution) of radars. In MIMO radars the amplitude and phase errors in antenna elements lead to increase in the sidelobe level and a misalignment of the mainlobe. As the result the performance of the antenna channels will be affected. Firstly, this paper presents analysis of effect of the amplitude and phase errors on angular spectrum using Monte-Carlo simulations. Then, the results are compared with performed measurements. Finally, the error correction with a self-calibration method is proposed and its angle dependency is evaluated. It is shown that the values of the errors change with an incident angle, which leads to a required angle-dependent calibration.