On Unique Localization of Multiple Targets by MIMO Radars

In this letter, we investigate the number of targets that can be uniquely localized by a direction-finding (DF) multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) radar system, often referred to as the parameter identification capacity (PIC), regardless of any certain DF algorithm. Using the dimension theory, we derive the PIC from a general measurement model. We show that the PIC of DF MIMO radar is determined not only by the antenna geometry configuration, but also by the number of independent processing intervals, unknown noise level, and the targets' reflection coefficients. Finally, the PICs of four representative antenna geometries are investigated and compared.

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