Real-time Calibration Technology for Amplitude and Phase Errors of Airborne Conformal Array Channels

Due to the highly skinned airborne conformal array, there are problems such as array mismatch caused by violent airframe tremors during high-speed maneuvers of the vehicle, and a fast channel prediction and calibration algorithm needs to be investigated to improve the array beamforming robustness. In this study, we first analyze the degree of distortion of the airborne conformal arc array beam pattern under certain error perturbations. And assuming random channel amplitude and phase errors, the prediction and calibration algorithms for both types of errors are given. The prediction and calibration algorithms need to be combined with the received array signal model in the context of the conformal array, and specific array robustness determination basis is given to analyze the performance in terms of array element calibration error and amplitude and phase error. Then a conformal array error prediction algorithm based on the standard calibration element technique is proposed, which can be used not only for array calibration at the beginning of array design, but also for channel correction in the actual use of use. Finally the algorithm can perform error prediction for spatially distributed arrays based on three calibration elements, and the error prediction values can be directly deployed in the baseband section for real-time calibration. In an array with a spacing of 10 elements, there is a good prediction for random jitter of 5, among which a single prediction deviates most from the actual error. And the use of error prediction values can be directly deployed in the baseband section for real-time calibration, with a calibration accuracy of within 2 accuracy values and high real-time error correction ability.