Direction of Arrival Estimation Via DE Based-Optimised Excitation Amplitude and Spacing

The direction of arrival (DOA) estimation is an important research problem widely investigated in the literature. Several methods have been proposed for the solution of this problem earlier. One group of the DOA estimation methods is subspace optimisation methods such as MUSIC, ESPRIT and Matrix Pencil method. Also, antenna array configuration plays an essential role in direction finding applications. In this paper, a new DOA estimation approach has been proposed which uses a uniform linear array (ULA). The inter-element spacings and excitation amplitudes of ULA have been optimised using differential evolution algorithm for the estimation of the angles of incidence. It has been shown that a significant advantage has been obtained by merging the Matrix Pencil method with the differential evolution algorithm. The effects of several parameters (noise level, the number of signal sources, the number of antenna elements, angle of incidence) have been investigated. The results have been discussed and have been compared with the literature. The simulations indicate that the suggested approach offers substantial benefits compared to conventional techniques, particularly regarding precision in challenging situations.