Robust Capon-based direction-of-arrival estimators in partly calibrated sensor array

In this paper a problem of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation in partly calibrated sensor arrays is considered. It is assumed that a sensor array consists of subarrays with full inner calibration and unknown intersubarray distortions. Capon-based methods are proposed for DOA estimation as suitable techniques have robustness to intersubarray distortions. These methods are an extension of robust Capon beamformer developed for partly calibrated array to the DOA estimation. The simulations validate efficiency of the proposed algorithms.

► The direction-of-arrival problem in array composed of partly calibrated subarrays is considered.
► New direction-of-arrival algorithms such as the robust Capon and Borgiotti–Lagunas estimators based on worst-case performance optimization are proposed.
► Our methods are appropriate for both low-rank and general rank signal models and achieve high accuracy of direction-of-arrival estimation.