Direct Localization of Multiple Sources by Partly Calibrated Arrays

Abstract

We present novel solutions to the problem of direct localization of multiple narrow-band and arbitrarily correlated sources by partly calibrated arrays, i.e., arrays composed of fully calibrated sub-arrays yet lacking inter-array calibration. The solutions presented vary in their performance and computational complexity. We present first a relaxed maximum likelihood solution whose concentrated likelihood involves only the unknown locations of the sources and requires an eigen-decomposition of the array covariance matrix at every potential location. To reduce the computational load, we introduce an approximation which eliminates the need for such an eigen-decomposition at every potential location. To further reduce the computational load, novel MUSIC-like and MVDR-like solutions are presented which are computationally much simpler than the existing solutions. The performance of these solutions is evaluated and compared via simulations.