Virtual Sensor Radar Layout for Elevation Angle and Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar systems using three sensors to acquire both azimuth and elevation angles often require individual processing and merging of data, lacking additional angle information and efficient calibration methods, especially in cases where sensors have one-dimensional antenna arrangements or misalignment occurs.
Innovation Solution
A phase-coherent cooperative sensor network is formed by synchronizing at least three radar sensors, creating a virtual sensor through bistatic measurements using MIMO, allowing for the acquisition of elevation angles and sensor calibration by evaluating phase differences and overlapping antenna channels, enabling joint data processing for improved angular resolution and misalignment detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If three radar sensors are used to acquire both azimuth and elevation angles, then angular measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and computational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple radar sensors to create a virtual sensor that provides both azimuth and elevation angle information. Instead of treating each sensor independently, the system merges their measurements coherently, allowing three sensors to function as a unified six-degree-of-freedom measurement system, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced angular measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual sensor acts as an intermediary construct that synthesizes information from multiple physical sensors. This virtual entity provides the additional angular information needed without requiring direct physical installation of sensors in all necessary positions, simplifying the physical deployment while achieving comprehensive angular coverage
2Ease of operation
If individual sensor data are processed separately and then merged, then processing simplicity is maintained, but additional target angle information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coherent combination of sensor data at the raw measurement level before target detection and tracking. By merging the complex baseband signals from multiple sensors with proper phase alignment beforehand, the system preserves all angular information throughout subsequent processing stages, avoiding the information loss that occurs when individual sensors process data independently
3Measurement precision
If sensors are disposed at different heights for elevation measurement, then elevation angle acquisition is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning sensors at different heights to enable elevation angle measurement. This spatial arrangement in three dimensions allows the system to extract both azimuth and elevation information from the phase differences between sensors, transforming a potential installation complexity into a measurement advantage
4Measurement precision
If phase-coherent processing is implemented across multiple sensors, then angular resolution is improved, but computational effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational process into distinct stages: first performing coherent combination of sensor signals to form the virtual sensor output, then applying standard target detection and angle extraction algorithms to the combined data. This segmentation avoids the computational burden of evaluating all possible sensor combinations independently, reducing overall computational effort while maintaining high angular resolution through phase-coherent processing
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system. The radar system includes at least three radar sensors which are connected to one another in a phase-coherent manner. A first radar sensor and a second radar sensor are disposed spaced apart from one another. A virtual sensor is created by means of bistatic measurement of at least the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor using the MIMO method. At least one third radar sensor is disposed offset to the virtual sensor. The radar system is configured to acquire an elevation angle of a target using the virtual sensor and the at least one third sensor.