Transmit beampattern design based on convex optimization for MIMO radar systems

• We propose two algorithms based on convex optimization technique for the synthesis of the waveform covariance matrix in order to approximate a desired transmit beampattern in MIMO radar systems.
• In the first algorithm, an omnidirectional beampattern design is proposed to synthesize the covariance matrix.
• The second algorithm is proposed to guarantee the distortionless response in the mainlobes domain and maintain the sidelobes to be lower than the given threshold values.
• These optimal designs are converted to the Second-Order Cone Programming and are solved via the convex optimization toolbox CVX.
• Numerical examples demonstrate the performance advantage of our algorithms.

Transmit beampattern design plays an important role in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radars. In this paper, two convex optimization-based algorithms are proposed for the synthesis of the waveform covariance matrix in order to achieve a desired transmit beampattern. In the first algorithm, an omnidirectional beampattern design (OMBD) is proposed to synthesize the MIMO radar covariance matrix. The second algorithm including three different design methods is proposed to synthesize the covariance matrix with sidelobe control, so as to guarantee the distortionless response in the mainlobes domain and maintain the sidelobes to be lower than the given threshold values. These optimal design problems are further converted to convex optimization problems and are solved efficiently via the modeling system CVX. Comprehensively simulation examples and results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.