Angle of Arrival Estimation.

Abstract : The objective of this study was to develop methods of determining the angle of arrival of uplink signals in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Satellite Communications System that employs high gain, switchable downlink spotbeams. Two approaches are examined and data resulting from theoretical calculations and computer simulations are presented from comparison. Both approaches are based upon maximum likelihood estimation and incorporate adaptive array processing in suppressing undesired signals. The results show that either approach can accurately determine the angle of arrival of a desired signal in the presence of much higher powered undesired signals. In future TDMA SATCOM Systems, the angle of arrival data could be provided to expanded on-board processors to steer the switchable, downlink spotbeams. (Author)