TVmmC: Robust Calibration Method for Signal Distortion in Near-Field MIMO Imaging Radar

This article proposes a robust calibration method for linear distortions in a wide-band system with 2-D near-field imaging capabilities. The proposed method, TVmmC, solves an optimization problem using total-variation regularization via the majorization-minimization approach in a 2-D reconstructed image domain. The purpose of TVmmC is to remove the systematic frequency-dependent errors that are severe in many wideband systems. The novelty of TVmmC is to provide reliable calibration results even in the presence of clutter and noise, resulting in directly applying it in a real operating environment. To validate TVmmC, experiments were performed using a Ku-band imaging radar system that suffers from linear distortions in the radio frequency subsystem. The radar system was tested in a real environment where clutter and noise were present, confirming that the application of TVmmC resulted in clear images.

Automated summary

This article presents a robust calibration method, TVmmC, for linear distortions in a wide-band system with 2-D near-field imaging capabilities. The proposed method utilizes total-variation regularization via the majorization-minimization approach in a 2-D reconstructed image domain. TVmmC aims to remove severe systematic frequency-dependent errors that are commonly found in wideband systems. The novelty of TVmmC lies in its ability to provide reliable calibration results in the presence of clutter and noise, making it applicable in real operating environments. Experimental validation using a Ku-band imaging radar system confirms the effectiveness of TVmmC in producing clear images.