Improved Underwater Target Azimuth Estimation Histogram Algorithm Based on the Coherence Function with a Single Vector Hydrophone

The histogram algorithm based on sound intensity having been widely used to estimate the azimuths of underwater acoustic targets. The advantage of this algorithm is that all we need is a single vector hydrophone to distinguish multiple targets' azimuths. The histogram approach acquiesces in that the acoustic pressure is perfectly correlated with the particle velocity. However, the sound field excited by the sound source is not always coherent, especially in the near field. An improved algorithm based on the coherence function is presented in this paper. More accurate estimations can be obtained using the improved algorithm, which is more applicable to the practical sound field.