Optimization for MVDR beamforming based on single pressure gradient vector hydrophone

The optimization technique of the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamforming based on single two-dimension pressure gradient vector hydrophone is studied from the aspects of vector hydrophone and pressure sensors array. When the radius to wavelength ratio is more than 0.1, the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation performance of the pressure gradient hydrophone becomes worse. For improving this, a modified MVDR beamforming approach based on single pressure gradient vector hydrophone (MVMVDR) is proposed. The simulation and lake trial results indicate the MVMVDR approach has better robustness to the variation of the radius; it has better DOA estimation performance than original approaches when the radius to wavelength ratio is equal or lesser than 0.1, and it is still valid when the radius to wavelength ratio is more than 0.1.