A NEW DOA ESTIMATOR BASED ON BEAM OUTPUT
基于波束输出的高分辨定向方法及性能分析

A new DOA estimator based on beam output is presented in this paper. It uses subarray to form beam and regards these subarrays as equivalent sensors. So a new array is generated. Employing original high-resolution DOA estimators, such as MUSIC, on the new array, DOAs are then obtained. Monte Carlo test and underwater high-resolution array processing experiment are made on linear equispaced array (LEA) to check the performance of the new method. It is shown from the result of tests that the new method possesses some advantages over the original one. First, it improves the estimation precision and resolution of original method; Second, it reduces the burden of computation; Third, the most important one, it becomes not sensitive to various array errors, such as sensors position/phase error, inconsistency of sensors directionality, etc.. So it is promising on engineering application. Statistical performance analysis and underwater experimental results are given in the paper to verify the conclusion.