Performance of root-MUSIC algorithm using real-world arrays

In this paper we study the performance of the root-MUSIC algorithm and its extensions to non-ULA configurations using real-world antenna arrays. These arrays are non-ideal and built using directional elements, where each sensor has its own directional beampattern. We describe the Element-Space (ES) root-MUSIC algorithm for Direction-of-Arrival (DoA) estimation [1]. It uses the manifold separation technique and allows extending the known root-MUSIC algorithm to non-ULA configurations. We explain how to select the number of modes in order to minimize the array modelling error, when applying the manifold separation technique. Finally, we evaluate the ES-root-MUSIC algorithm using real-world antenna array data. The simulation results demonstrate that statistical performance close to the Cramér-Rao Bound is obtained using real-world arrays with all their imperfections.