Nodes Positions Optimization for Sparse Large Aperture Radar System with Enhanced Target Search Efficiency

This paper focuses on the problem of the optimization of nodes positions for sparse large aperture radar (SLAR) system. To overcome the deficiency of low target search efficiency in traditional SLAR system, a search scheme based on grating lobe controlling, in which the SLAR system searches multiple directions simultaneously by utilizing a transmit beampattern with multiple grating lobes, is provided. More specifically, the relationship between the nodes positions and grating lobes is mathematically discussed. On this basis, under the practical node position constraint, a design method of nodes positions for synthesizing a beampattern with desired grating lobes and low sidelobes is presented. Some representative simulations are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.