Abstract:

The concept for implementing successfully adaptive schemes in two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) arrays of sensors, such as planar, circular, cylindrical, and spherical arrays, is similar to that of line arrays. In particular, the basic step is to minimize the number of degrees of freedom associated with the adaptation process. The present investigation has been centered on the definition of a generic beamforming structure that decomposes the beamforming process of 2- and 3-D sensor arrays into subsets of coherent processes. The approach is to separate the computationally intensive multidimensional beamforming into two simple modules, which are line and circular array beamformers. Thus the multidimensional beamforming process can now be divided into coherent subprocesses which lead to efficient implementation in real-time sonar and radar systems. Furthermore, the application of spatial shading to reduce the side-lobe structures can now be easily incorporated. Moreover, the new approach makes the implementation of adaptive schemes in multidimensional sensor arrays practically achievable. The investigation includes also the definition of generic sub-aperture schemes for 2- and 3-D sensor arrays. This approach leads to minimization of the associated convergence period and makes the implementation of adaptive schemes in multidimensional sensor arrays practically feasible. [Work supported by NSERC-STR181039.]