A Sequential ESPRIT Algorithm Based on a Novel UCSA Configuration for Parametric Estimation of Two-Dimensional Incoherently Distributed Source

Two-dimensional distributed source is a more realistic model to represent the target signal propagation in such fields as radar, sonar, and wireless communication. This paper presents a novel uniform circular sub-array (UCSA) configuration, which can be used to accurately estimate parameters of multiple two-dimensional incoherently distributed (TDID) sources. By sequentially utilizing the mapping relationship between the generalized array manifold, which has the spatial translation invariant relationship, and the signal subspace of TDID source, a closed-form solution of four parameters (central and spread parameters within azimuth and elevation dimension) of every TDID source can be obtained with low computational complexity. Furthermore, by properly using the signal subspace, the estimation accuracy is improved significantly. Numerical simulations illustrate the properties of the proposed method and show that it can simultaneously improve the robustness with respect to the scattering size and uncertainty of the spatial distribution. The proposed method has the potential to be used for fast and accurate multi-TDID source localization with arrays of small aperture and few array elements.