Signal Source Angular Location Tracking Algorithm

This paper presents an algorithm of the signal source angular location tracking. The tracking is carried out by means of an antenna array. Traditional angular tracking is based on the usage of a monopulse (sum and difference) architecture which combines the output signals of the directional antennas (with mechanical or electronic steering). This requires the usage of a few antennas and a combiner of the antenna output signals. The algorithm, presented in this paper, allows to find the signal source angular location using only one directional antenna that is the antenna array. It is assumed the usage of the antenna array with the digital beamforming. However, the analog phased array can be used as well. This is because the algorithm is based on the processing of the antenna array output signal estimates after the changing (perturbations) only the phases of the array channel signals. This changing can be done by means of the phased shifters in a phased array or by means of the complex-valued weights with the unity absolute values in an antenna array with the digital beamforming. The paper considers the usage of the algorithm in a linear antenna array. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the array output samples are processed by a correlator or a matched filter. For this reason, the measured signal must be a pseudo noise sequence. The paper describes the proposed algorithm and the simulation results that confirm the algorithm's operation and demonstrate its efficiency.