Method and system for testing the elevation beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of one-dimensional phased array radar pitch direction transmitting beam width test method and system, the test method includes the pointing angle of the radar to be measured transmitting beam, control a reflection source moves to the test position in the air and keeps hovering;Fix the pointing angle of the to-be-tested transmitting beam;The beam parameter of the radar is configured, the beam parameter includes receiving beam interval, total number of receiving beam and the number of receiving beam corresponding to each transmitting wave position;Control the radar carries out signal transmission and reception according to the configured beam parameter, and the width of the to-be-tested transmitting beam is calculated based on the received echo signal.The application solves the problem that one-dimensional phased array radar cannot carry out pitch direction transmitting beam width test in outfield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of radar testing technology, and in particular relates to a method and system for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar. Background Technology

[0002] Phased array radar, short for "phase-controlled electronically scanned array radar," is an advanced radar system that uses electronic means to control the phase of antenna elements to achieve beam scanning. Compared with traditional mechanically scanned radar, phased array radar has significant advantages such as fast scanning speed, flexible beam control, and strong multi-target tracking capability. One-dimensional phased array radar refers to a radar system that uses electronic scanning in the elevation direction but still relies on mechanical scanning in the azimuth direction. This type of radar can flexibly configure beam parameters in the elevation direction, including beamwidth, number of beams, and pointing angle. It can generate narrow beams to improve resolution and gain, or wide beams to expand coverage. However, increasing the beamwidth leads to energy dispersion and decreased gain. Digital multi-beam technology is typically used for reception, achieving parallel processing of multiple beams through digital domain synthesis, further improving the system's adaptability and performance.

[0003] Beam pattern, especially the transmit beam pattern, is one of the core indicators for evaluating the performance of phased array radar. Its main lobe width, sidelobe level, and beam pointing accuracy directly affect the radar's detection range, resolution, and anti-jamming performance. Currently, testing the elevation transmit beam pattern of a one-dimensional phased array radar mainly relies on a microwave anechoic chamber environment. In the anechoic chamber, using a precision turntable and standard gain antenna, the radar's far-field radiation pattern can be accurately measured, obtaining complete beam characteristic parameters.

[0004] However, microwave anechoic chamber testing has significant limitations: First, the construction cost of the anechoic chamber is high and the construction period is long, and its size limits the test distance, making it difficult to fully simulate the actual working environment of the radar; second, this test is a static laboratory test. After the radar leaves the factory, it undergoes transportation, installation, and long-term operation. Its antenna array may experience performance drift or even deterioration due to factors such as stress deformation, temperature changes, component aging, or failure. In this case, in-situ field testing is required to verify its actual performance; finally, once a large radar system is deployed in the field, it is difficult to disassemble and return it to the anechoic chamber for retesting, resulting in blind spots in the performance evaluation under actual working conditions.

[0005] Therefore, the industry urgently needs a method and system for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar that is applicable to outdoor environments, easy to operate, and highly accurate. This method must be able to achieve in-situ, rapid detection of the radar's core transmit performance without relying on large anechoic chamber facilities, through innovative testing concepts and signal processing techniques. This would effectively ensure the radar's performance controllability and maintainability throughout its entire lifecycle, improving its battlefield adaptability and mission reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method and system for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar, so as to solve the problem that the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar cannot be tested in the field.

[0007] This invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution: a method for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar, comprising:

[0008] Based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam, a reflection source is controlled to move to a test position in the air and remain hovering.

[0009] Fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam to be tested;

[0010] Configure the beam parameters of the radar, including the receive beam spacing, the total number of receive beams, and the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position;

[0011] The radar is controlled to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters, and the width of the transmitted beam to be tested is calculated based on the received echo signal.

[0012] Further, configuring the beam parameters of the radar includes:

[0013] Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested;

[0014] The total number of received beams is calculated based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams.

[0015] The total number of receive beams is evenly distributed among multiple transmit positions to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

[0016] Further, the width of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the received echo signal, including:

[0017] Based on the received echo signal, determine the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB;

[0018] The beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB.

[0019] Based on the same concept, this invention provides a one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system, comprising:

[0020] The positioning control module is used to control a reflector to move to a test position in the air and keep it hovering, based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam.

[0021] The beam fixing and configuration module is used to fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test and configure the beam parameters of the radar. The beam parameters include the receiving beam spacing, the total number of receiving beams, and the number of receiving beams corresponding to each transmitted beam position.

[0022] The control and processing module is used to control the radar to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters when the reflection source is located at the test position, and to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal.

[0023] Furthermore, the reflective source is a metal sphere filled with liquid, the volume of which is smaller than the volume of the metal sphere. Utilizing the principle of liquid damping, the disturbance of the metal sphere by high-altitude winds during actual testing is effectively reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, the positioning control module includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a reflector; the UAV is used to control its own movement based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam under test, so as to drive the reflector to move to the test position in the air and keep it hovering.

[0025] Furthermore, the unmanned aerial vehicle is a drone or an airship.

[0026] Furthermore, the beam fixing and configuration module is used to configure the beam parameters of the radar, specifically including:

[0027] Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested;

[0028] The total number of received beams is calculated based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams.

[0029] The total number of receive beams is evenly distributed among multiple transmit positions to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

[0030] Furthermore, the control and processing module is used to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal, specifically including:

[0031] Based on the received echo signal, determine the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB;

[0032] The beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0034] This invention fully utilizes the characteristics of one-dimensional phased array radar, fixes the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test, reduces the spacing between the received beams, and increases the number of received beams by increasing the number of transmitted beams. It uses multiple fine received beams to characterize the power distribution of the transmitted beam, and then calculates the beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test in the elevation direction. This solves the problem that one-dimensional phased array radar cannot perform elevation beamwidth testing in the field.

[0035] This invention achieves precise positioning of the reflector in a real outdoor environment, completely eliminating the reliance on large microwave anechoic chambers. This not only saves on the high cost of anechoic chamber construction and the long testing cycle, but also allows for testing at the actual deployment site and in the actual working environment of the radar. The test results more accurately reflect the technical performance of the radar, eliminating performance evaluation errors between the laboratory and the field.

[0036] This invention eliminates the need to disassemble and transport large radar equipment, enabling rapid testing anytime after radar deployment. By flexibly configuring beam parameters, it can adapt to testing requirements with different precision and beamwidths, achieving software-based and automated testing processes and significantly improving maintenance and support efficiency throughout the entire lifecycle.

[0037] This invention utilizes the high-precision hovering technology of unmanned aerial vehicles to stably position point target reflection sources at precise angular positions under far-field conditions, providing a reliable benchmark for measurement. Based on the test accuracy and theoretical beamwidth, the receiving beam spacing and number are intelligently configured to ensure that the sampling point density is sufficient to accurately fit the shape of the transmitted beam, especially the details of the main lobe and near-end side lobes, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy of beamwidth measurement. Attached Figure Description

[0038] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only one embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the method for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the radar under test and the reflection source during testing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the damping principle of a liquid-filled metal ball in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the receiving beam based on two transmitting wave positions in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 5 This is the echo intensity distribution curve in the pitch direction in this embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1-Radar, 2-Reflector, 3-Unmanned aerial vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0046] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0047] Example 1

[0048] To address the issue of the inability to test the elevation beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar in the field, this invention provides a method for testing the elevation beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar. This method utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying a reflector, which is stably hovered within the main lobe illumination range of the radar's transmit beam or pointing upwards from the beam center. The flexibility of beam control in a one-dimensional phased array radar allows for the setting of beam parameters. During radar operation, the radiation pattern information of the transmit beam is analyzed from the echo signal scattered by the reflector, and the elevation beamwidth of the transmit beam is then calculated.

[0049] Figure 1 A flowchart of the one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing method provided by this invention is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the method for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar includes the following steps:

[0050] Step 1: Based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam, control a reflection source to move to the corresponding test position in the air and keep it hovering.

[0051] The test position of the reflector 2 in the air is determined based on the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test. The reflector 2 is then moved using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 3 to the test position in the air and hovered there. At this point, the reflector 2 is within the main lobe illumination range of the transmitted beam under test, or the reflector is located in the direction of the beam center of the transmitted beam under test, and the reflector 2 and radar 1 satisfy the far-field condition. Figure 2 As shown.

[0052] In embodiments of the present invention, the reflective source is a metal sphere, such as a copper sphere or a metal-plated sphere. Liquid is injected into the metal sphere, the volume of which is smaller than the volume of the metal sphere. Figure 3 As shown, when high-altitude winds act on the outer shell of the metal sphere in an attempt to make it sway, the sphere will cause the internal liquid to move. Due to the viscosity and inertia of the liquid, it will not move synchronously with the sphere immediately. Therefore, friction and eddies will be generated inside the liquid and between the liquid and the inner wall of the sphere, which will consume part of the kinetic energy transmitted by the wind. When the direction of liquid movement (the direction of liquid damping) is opposite to the direction of swaying, the disturbance of high-altitude winds on the metal sphere during actual testing is effectively reduced.

[0053] A metal sphere is an ideal point target reflection source, as its radar cross-section (RCS) is constant, providing a reliable benchmark for testing. Since the reflection characteristics of a sphere are identical in all directions, it simplifies the alignment accuracy requirements during testing. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a drone or an airship; the UAV can be a multi-rotor UAV or a tethered UAV.

[0054] Step 2: Fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam to be tested.

[0055] The essence of beamwidth testing is to map the distribution of transmitted energy in space. By fixing the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test, the radar continuously radiates and measures the reflection source during operation, without scanning. This "staring" mode stabilizes the shape and position of the transmitted beam in space, establishing a stable measurement benchmark. The fixed pointing angle of the transmitted beam means that all transmitted energy is continuously concentrated on the reflection source, allowing the reflection source to receive the strongest and most stable radiation signal, thus generating a strong and stable echo. This greatly improves the signal-to-noise ratio and enables clearer and more accurate differentiation of the main lobe peak and the half-power point (-3dB point), resulting in a more accurate beamwidth value.

[0056] Step 3: Configure the radar beam parameters.

[0057] Beam parameters include the receive beam spacing, the total number of receive beams, and the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

[0058] The maximum number of receive beams supported by a phased array radar is hardware-dependent, and this limited maximum number of receive beams restricts the detection width of the transmitted beam. For example, a certain phased array radar supports a maximum of 16 receive beams, with a beamwidth testing accuracy of 0.1° and a receive beam spacing of 0.1°, and can only cover a maximum of 1.5°. This means it can only test transmitted beams with a beamwidth less than 1.5°, which has limitations.

[0059] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention leverages the flexibility of phased array radar by setting the same shaping coefficient for multiple transmit positions. This means that multiple transmit positions simultaneously point to the same angle, and the pointing angle of the last receive beam corresponding to the i-th transmit position overlaps with the pointing angle of the first receive beam corresponding to the (i+1)-th transmit position.

[0060] Taking two transmitted wave positions as an example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the 16 receiving beams correspond to the first transmitting beam position. Figure 4 The solid lines in the diagram, determined by the maximum number of receiving beams supported by the radar, are distributed to the left of the transmitting beam. The 16 receiving beams corresponding to the second transmitting beam position ( Figure 4 The dashed lines (in the diagram) are distributed to the right of the transmitted beam, and the pointing angle of the 16th received beam corresponding to the 1st transmitted beam position overlaps with the pointing angle of the 1st received beam corresponding to the 2nd transmitted beam position, both being 0°. The echo signals scattered by the reflection source are synchronously sampled using the 32 received beams corresponding to the two transmitted beam positions. By processing the echo power data of each received beam, the energy distribution of the transmitted beam in space is reconstructed.

[0061] To measure the beamwidth of different transmitted beams and overcome limitations, it is necessary to configure the radar's beam parameters. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, configuring the radar's beam parameters includes:

[0062] Step 3.1: Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested.

[0063] If the beamwidth measurement accuracy is Δθ, then the receiving beam spacing is less than Δθ.

[0064] Step 3.2: Calculate the total number of received beams based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams.

[0065] The total number of received beams is equal to 1.5 times the quotient of the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test and the received beam spacing. For example, if the theoretical beamwidth is 2° and the received beam spacing is 0.1°, then the total number of received beams is at least 30. The total number of received beams being greater than the quotient of the theoretical beamwidth and the received beam spacing of the transmitted beam under test provides redundancy, allowing the test to include angles beyond the effective beamwidth, thus facilitating a better characterization of the transmitted beamwidth.

[0066] Step 3.3: Distribute the total number of receive beams equally among the multiple transmit positions to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

[0067] The number of transmit positions n takes the value 1, 2, ... When the total number of receive beams is less than or equal to the maximum number of receive beams supported by the radar, the number of transmit positions n is 1, and the number of receive beams corresponding to that transmit position is the total number of receive beams; when the total number of receive beams is greater than the maximum number of receive beams supported by the radar, the number of transmit positions n is equal to the quotient of the total number of receive beams and the maximum number of receive beams supported by the radar, rounded up, and the total number of receive beams is evenly distributed among n transmit positions.

[0068] For example, if the radar supports a maximum of 16 receiving beams and the total number of receiving beams is 20, then the number of transmitting positions n is 2, and the number of receiving beams corresponding to each transmitting position is 8.

[0069] Step 4: Control the radar to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters, and calculate the width of the transmitted beam to be tested based on the received echo signal.

[0070] When the reflecting source is within the illumination range of the main lobe of the transmitted beam under test or is located above the beam center of the transmitted beam under test, only the echo intensity corresponding to the center direction is the largest, and the echo intensity corresponding to both sides gradually decreases. When the echo intensity drops to -3dB, the receiving beam pointing angle is calculated, and the beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated, that is, the -3dB beamwidth in the elevation direction.

[0071] like Figure 5 As shown, the beam center pointing angle is 11.1°, the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity on the left drops to -3dB is 10.1°, the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity on the right drops to -3dB is 12.1°, and the elevation beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is 12.1° - 10.1° = 2.0°.

[0072] Example 2

[0073] To address the issue of the inability to test the elevation beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar in the field, this invention provides a one-dimensional phased array radar elevation beamwidth testing system. This system utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying a reflector, which is stably hovered within the main lobe illumination range of the radar's transmit beam or pointing upwards from the beam center. Taking advantage of the flexibility of one-dimensional phased array radar beam control, beam parameters can be set. During radar operation, the radiation pattern information of the transmit beam is analyzed from the echo signal scattered by the reflector, and the elevation beamwidth of the transmit beam is then calculated.

[0074] The one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system provided by the present invention includes a positioning control module, a beam fixing and configuration module, and a control and processing module.

[0075] The positioning control module is used to control a reflector to move to a test position in the air and keep it hovering, based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam.

[0076] The beam fixing and configuration module is used to fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test and configure the beam parameters of the radar. The beam parameters include the receiving beam spacing, the total number of receiving beams and the number of receiving beams corresponding to each transmitting position.

[0077] The control and processing module is used to control the radar to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters when the reflection source is located at the test position, and to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal.

[0078] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the positioning control module includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a reflector; the UAV is used to control its own movement based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam under test, so as to drive the reflector to move to the test position in the air and keep it hovering.

[0079] Unmanned aerial vehicles can obtain the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test by communicating with radar, or they can input the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test into the control unit of the unmanned aerial vehicle through other means.

[0080] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the beam fixing and configuration module is used to configure the beam parameters of the radar, specifically including:

[0081] Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested;

[0082] Calculate the total number of received beams based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams.

[0083] The total number of receive beams is assigned to at least one transmit position to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

[0084] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the control and processing module is used to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal, specifically including:

[0085] Based on the received echo signal, determine the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB;

[0086] The beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB.

[0087] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system can combine the features of the one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and vice versa, which will not be repeated here.

[0088] The above description only discloses specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or modifications that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar, characterized in that, The testing method includes: Based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam, a reflection source is controlled to move to a test position in the air and remain hovering. Fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam to be tested; Configure the beam parameters of the radar, including the receive beam spacing, the total number of receive beams, and the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position; The radar is controlled to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters, and the width of the transmitted beam to be tested is calculated based on the received echo signal. The configuration of the radar's beam parameters includes: Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested; The total number of received beams is calculated based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams. The total number of receive beams is evenly distributed among multiple transmit positions to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

2. The method for testing the elevation transmit beamwidth of a one-dimensional phased array radar according to claim 1, characterized in that, The calculation of the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal includes: Based on the received echo signal, determine the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB; The beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB.

3. A one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system, characterized in that, The testing system includes: The positioning control module is used to control a reflector to move to a test position in the air and keep it hovering, based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam. The beam fixing and configuration module is used to fix the pointing angle of the transmitted beam under test and configure the beam parameters of the radar. The beam parameters include the receiving beam spacing, the total number of receiving beams, and the number of receiving beams corresponding to each transmitted beam position. The control and processing module is used to control the radar to transmit and receive signals according to the configured beam parameters when the reflection source is located at the test position, and to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal. The beam fixing and configuration module is used to configure the beam parameters of the radar, specifically including: Determine the receiving beam spacing based on the beamwidth test accuracy requirements of the transmitted beam to be tested; The total number of received beams is calculated based on the theoretical beamwidth of the transmitted beam to be tested and the interval between the received beams. The total number of receive beams is evenly distributed among multiple transmit positions to determine the number of receive beams corresponding to each transmit position.

4. The one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reflective source is a metal sphere filled with liquid, the volume of which is smaller than the volume of the metal sphere.

5. The one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The positioning control module includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a reflector; the UAV is used to control its own movement based on the pointing angle of the radar's transmitted beam under test, so as to drive the reflector to the test position in the air and keep it hovering.

6. The one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The unmanned aerial vehicle is either a drone or an airship.

7. The one-dimensional phased array radar elevation transmit beamwidth testing system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The control and processing module is used to calculate the width of the transmitted beam under test based on the received echo signal, specifically including: Based on the received echo signal, determine the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB; The beamwidth of the transmitted beam under test is calculated based on the receiving beam pointing angle when the echo intensity drops to -3dB.

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