Cyclostationarity-based DOA estimation algorithms for coherent signals in impulsive noise environments

Estimating direction of arrival (DOA) is important in a variety of practical applications. Conventional cyclostationarity-based coherent DOA estimation algorithms are not robust to non-Gaussian α-stable impulsive noise. Additionally, fractional lower-order statistics (FLOS)-based algorithms are tolerant to impulsive noise; however, they experience performance degradation for coherent signals and interference. To overcome these drawbacks, two types of fractional lower-order cyclostationarity-based subspace DOA estimation methods are proposed for coherent signals in the presence of interference and α-stable impulsive noise. The new proposed algorithms exploit the fractional lower-order cyclostationarity properties of the signals and are immune to the impulsive noise and interference. Moreover, they can provide more accurate DOA estimates of coherent signals than conventional cyclostationarity-based and FLOS-based methods. The simulation results illustrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed methods for coherent signals based on a comparison with traditional methods. The new algorithms can be used in the presence of a wide range of interference, Gaussian noise, and α-stable distribution impulsive noise environments.