MIMO radar target localization and performance evaluation under SIRP clutter

• Published in: Signal processing Vol. 130; pp. 217 - 232
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xin, El Korso, Mohammed Nabil, Pesavento, Marius
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Angular resolution limit; Cramér–Rao-like bounds; Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; Maximum a posteriori estimation; Maximum likelihood estimation; Multiple-input multiple-output radar; Spherically invariant random process; Maximum a posteriori estimation; Cramér–Rao-like bounds; Maximum likelihood estimation; Spherically invariant random process; Multiple-input multiple-output radar; Angular resolution limit; Ondes ElectroMagnétiques; Matériaux et Systèmes
• ISSN: 0165-1684; 1872-7557; 1872-7557
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sigpro.2016.06.031

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar has become a thriving subject of research during the past decades. In the MIMO radar context, it is sometimes more accurate to model the radar clutter as a non-Gaussian process, more specifically, by using the spherically invariant random process (SIRP) model. In this paper, we focus on the estimation and performance analysis of the angular spacing between two targets for the MIMO radar under the SIRP clutter. First, we propose an iterative maximum likelihood as well as an iterative maximum a posteriori estimator, for the target's spacing parameter estimation in the SIRP clutter context. Then we derive and compare various Cramér–Rao-like bounds (CRLBs) for performance assessment. Finally, we address the problem of target resolvability by using the concept of angular resolution limit (ARL), and derive an analytical, closed-form expression of the ARL based on Smith's criterion, between two closely spaced targets in a MIMO radar context under SIRP clutter. For this aim we also obtain the non-matrix, closed-form expressions for each of the CRLBs. Finally, we provide numerical simulations to assess the performance of the proposed algorithms, the validity of the derived ARL expression, and to reveal the ARL's insightful properties. •Two MIMO radar target parameter estimators are designed under SIRP clutter.•Various Cramér–Rao-like bounds are derived and compared in the same context.•A closed-form expression for the target resolution limit in this context is proposed.