Time-delay estimation using MLE approach for wide-band radar systems

The problem of time-delay estimation has considerable practical importance in the area of communication. Consequently many procedures have been developed for this estimation. One such is the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method where the time delay between the signals received at two spatially separated sensors in the presence of uncorrelated noise can easily be estimated. A cross-correlation of the resulting sequences is carried out to determine the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the signal at the two sensors. This can be realized in practice by a pair of receiver filters followed by a cross-correlator. Also the true parameters of interest and hence the target location can be obtained from a set of time delay measurements using a group of sensors.