A MIMO Radar System based on Fractal Antenna Arrays for Level Measurement Applications

Abstract

In this contribution, the design of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar system in 77–81 GHz range with 18 transmitting antennas and 24 receiving antennas for measuring the height profile of bulk solids in silos, is presented and discussed. The antenna array topologies are optimized by utilizing space filling fractals in order to approximate a circular shaped antenna array on a hexagonal grid. The proposed MIMO radar system achieves an angular resolution of 3.1∘ for a maximum scanning angle of ±45∘ and a side lobe suppression of 12.6 dB. The performance of the system has been evaluated by test measurements on a sand heap, showing an improved measurement accuracy compared to conventional radar level systems.