A target imaging method of multiple-input-multiple-output ground penetrating radar-based on direction of arrival estimation

In this study we consider imaging of the multiple-input-multiple-output ground penetrating radar (MIMO-GPR) system, and analyse the effect and accuracy of the estimation for target echo arrival upon direction of arrival (DOA) in the three beam-forming algorithms, i.e. least square, Capon algorithm and amplitude phase estimation. We propose a method of multi-antenna GPR target imaging based on the DOA estimation. This method, to perform the target imaging, makes combined use of DOA estimation of target echo signal in MIMO array and array spatial observation information. By spatial scanning for the imaging points, the target is localized and the reflection intensity is estimated from the weighted integral of each estimated DOA amplitude value at the imaging point. This method, with simpler practice, less data observation frequency and more efficient calculation, can speed up the target detection measurement and improve the data interpretation efficiency.