Frequency‐modulated diverse array transmit beamforming with bat metaheuristic optimisation

Frequency diverse array (FDA) as a new array technology with range‐, angle‐ and time‐dependent beamforming has received much attention, especially in the application of radar systems. In FDA, the element indices employed frequency increments to produce angle–range beamforming. This study proposes bat metaheuristic algorithm‐based synthesis technique to uncouple the FDA angle–range beamforming. Specifically, the authors optimise the frequency increment, amplitude weighting and phase weighting with bat metaheuristic algorithm to obtain single‐dot and multi‐dot shape transmit beamforming. In addition, they take into account the real scenario, i.e. the propagation time of the radiated signal arriving at the target position. It is demonstrated that the proposed bat algorithm FDA achieves more focused beamforming (i.e. narrower mainlobe) and better sidelobes levels (peak to sidelobe ratio) compared to other frequency increment techniques in the literature.