Multiply replicated arrays for direction of arrival estimation

The authors consider a novel multisensor array structure and algorithms for direction-of-arrival estimation for multiple narrowband sources. The proposed array is composed of many identical subarrays with known fixed displacement and zero rotation relative to one another. Physically, the array may be constructed from a number of multiplets (uniform linear arrays), all having the same intersensor spacing and orientation. The locations of the individual multiplets can be arbitrary and unknown. The sensors on the same multiplet must be identical, but sensors on different multiplets may be different. The choice of multiplet length presents a tradeoff between robustness to perturbations and resolution performance. This tradeoff is studied through simulations.