Waveform weighting matrix design for robust transmit beampattem formation of MIMO radar

Abstract

The waveform weighting matrix design for robust transmit beampattern formation of multiple-input multiple-output radar in presence of transmit steering vector error is studied. Unlike waveform covariance matrix design for transmit beampattern formation, each transmit array element emits a weighted sum of orthogonal waveforms which persues good auto- and cross-correlation properties of waveforms. The weighting matrix is designed by minimizing integrated side-lobe level, under the worst-case 3 dB main-beam width constraint. By employing semidefinite relax and first-order Taylor series expansion, non-convex optimization problem can be converted to a convex one. And a cyclic minimization algorithm based on second-order cone programming is given to synthesize transmit waveform weighting matrix. Simulations show that the proposed method can form robust beampattern against transmit steering vector error and the cyclic optimization algorithm can synthesize transmit waveform weighting matrix effectively.