Improved DFT Algorithm for 2D DOA Estimation Based on 1D Nested Array Motion

In this letter, two-dimensional (2D) direction of arrival (DOA) estimation using one-dimensional (1D) nested array motion is studied, and an improved Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) algorithm is proposed. Exploiting nested array to move vertically along its axis enables 2D DOA estimation with large-scale and hole-free difference co-array. DFT algorithm has lower complexity than multiple signal classifications(MUSIC) method, but traditional DFT algorithm still requires multiple extra searches to ensure estimation accuracy. We use DFT to obtain the initial angle estimations, and then compensate the estimation offsets via total least squares (TLS) constructed from Taylor expansion approximation. Compared with the traditional DFT search method, the proposed method has lower complexity and better performance. Multiple simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of our approach.