Array self-calibration with large sensor position errors

Self-calibration algorithms estimate both source directions of arrival (DOAs) and perturbed array response vector parameters, such as sensor locations. Calibration errors are usually assumed to be small and a first order approximation to the perturbed array response vector is often used to simplify the estimation procedure. In this paper, we develop a more robust procedure that does not rely on the small error assumption. It has better performance for large estimation errors, and when used to initialize the Weiss and Friedlander MUSIC-based iterative technique, we see significant improvement over existing techniques for both small and large errors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.