Research on target DOA estimation method using MIMO sonar

In this paper, a new space-time coding configuration for target direction finding by active arrays called multi-input multi-output (MIMO) arrays is proposed. Multiple mutually uncorrelated (orthogonal) probing signals are transmitted by MIMO array whose steering vectors are the convolution of transmit and receive steering vectors of conventional phased array, which is essentially equivalent to extending the array aperture by additional virtual sensors. These virtual sensors can be used to form narrower beams with lower sidelobes because MIMO array beam pattern is the product of the transmit beam pattern and the receive beam pattern. Minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) method for DOA is studied and simulations and experiments show that the MIMO array can achieve better performance in target detection and angular resolution over conventional phased arrays.