A subarray-synthesis based 2D DOA estimation method

In some satellite communications, we need to perform Direction Of Arrival (DOA) angle estimation under the restriction that the number of receivers is less than that of the array elements in an array antenna. To solve the conundrum, a method named subarray-synthesis-based Two-Dimensional DOA (2D DOA) angle estimation is proposed. In the method, firstly, the array antenna is divided into a series of subarray antennas based on the total number of receivers; secondly, the subarray antennas’ output covariance matrices are estimated; thirdly, an equivalent covariance matrix is synthesized based on the subarray output covariance matrices; then 2D DOA estimation is performed. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the estimation method is effective.