Parameter identifiability in a phased-subarray MIMO radar

Multiple-input multiple-output radar systems have shown great potential for better performance in detection and angular resolution and measurement accuracy. However, the implementation of a MIMO radar can create significant costs due to the ability to generate orthogonal waveforms on each transmit element. Furthermore, the design of waveforms that meet the necessary linear independence for all elements can be difficult for large arrays. A phased-subarray MIMO radar system, where not all radiating elements transmit orthogonal waveforms and all elements are steerable in terms of phase weighting, may be able to provide many of the advantages of a MIMO radar system while mitigating these system costs. One area in which the MIMO radar has shown to improve performance is in parameter indentifiability. The use of a phased-subarray MIMO radar retains much of this parameter indentifiability capability despite the lack of linear independence of the transmitting elements. Furthermore, the judicious design of the array can improve parameter identifiability.