Two-dimensional DOA estimation of coherent signals using acoustic vector sensor array

In this paper, we present two new methods for estimating two-dimensional (2-D) direction-of-arrival (DOA) of narrowband coherent (or highly correlated) signals using an L-shaped array of acoustic vector sensors. We decorrelate the coherency of the signals and reconstruct the signal subspace using cross-correlation matrix, and then the ESPRIT and propagator methods are applied to estimate the azimuth and elevation angles. The ESPRIT technique is based on the shift invariance property of array geometry and the propagator method is based on partitioning of the cross-correlation matrix. The propagator method is computationally efficient and requires only linear operations. Moreover, it does not require any eigendecomposition or singular-value decomposition as for the ESPRIT method. These two techniques are direct methods which do not require any 2-D iterative search for estimating the azimuth and the elevation angles. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed methods.

► A 2-D DOA estimation of highly correlated signals using acoustic vector sensor array is proposed.
► Spatial decorrelation between the two sub-arrays is achieved through physical separation.
► A full rank cross-correlation matrix is constructed by decorrelating the coherency of the sources.
► ESPRIT and propagator concepts are applied to estimate the DOA parameters.