Robust Pencil Beam Pattern Synthesis With Array Position Uncertainty

In many practical applications, the antenna arrays are not accurately implemented as desired, resulting in the degradation of sidelobe level. This letter proposes a robust pencil beam pattern synthesis (PBPS) algorithm that is adaptive to the uncertainties of array position. The proposed algorithm, first, sets up the position-variation-related PBPS optimization problem, and then rewrites the position-related parameter, i.e., the array factor, into a high-order Taylor expansion with respect to the array position variation. Thereafter, an iterative processes are designed to estimate the position variation. Finally, the optimal array excitation is calculated by solving the related PBPS problem, in which the estimated array position is used. Simulations with both isotropic element pattern and active element pattern are carried out and the results are compared with the results achieved from the existing work to validate the superiority of the proposed algorithm.

Automated summary

This letter introduces a robust pencil beam pattern synthesis algorithm that is adaptive to uncertainties in array position. By estimating position variations and solving related PBPS problems, the optimal array excitation is calculated to validate the superiority of the proposed algorithm through simulations.