A 3-subarray DOA estimation method based on phase difference measurement for multi-beam bathymetry sonar.

Abstract: Multi-beam bathymetry sonar is one of the current important equipments for seafloor bathymetry information detection. This paper extends the phase center cross-correlation method (PCCCT) which is successfully used in a 3- row bathymetric sidescan sonar to multi-beam bathymetry sonar, and a 3-subarray Direction-of-Arrival (DOA) estimation method based on phase difference measurement is proposed. A comparison with the split-beam DOA estimation method which is commonly used in multi-beam bathymetry sonar is employed. The paper analyzes the basic principle of the new method in details, and derives its mathematical model expression. The performance analysis is accomplished in theory. Computer simulation data is processed, and the results show that the 3-subarray DOA estimation method is effective and practical for multi-beam bathymetry sonar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]