An ESPRIT-like Algorithm for the Central DOA Estimation of Distributed Source

In antenna array application, the propagation environment is often more complicated than the ordinarily assumed model of plane wavefronts. Here, an ESPRIT-like algorithm is suggested for estimating the central direction-of- arrival (DOA) of a source subject to local scattering, using a uniform linear array. The ESPRIT-like rotation matrix between the two subarrays is showed to exist based on the approximate closed form of the steering vector. So the DOA estimate can be obtained from the relationship between the two subarrays. The so-obtained DOA estimate does not depend on any assumption on the spatial distribution of the source and is hence robust to mismodeling. Simulations clearly demonstrate that the proposed method is not only effective, but also increases estimation accuracy compared with TLS-ESPRIT based on Taylor series expansion and DSPE algorithm.