Deconvolved Beamforming for a Compact Conformal Array on a Three-dimensional Mobile Platform

A robust and high-resolution deconvolution algorithm based on coordinate correction is developed for a compact conformal array on a three-dimensional (3D) moving platform such as underwater glider. First, the coordinate-correcting conventional beamforming is derived to directly estimate the azimuth of the long-range targets in the geodesic coordinate system for a 3D moving platform array. Then, we improve the extended Richardson–Lucy deconvolution (Ex-RL-dCv) beamforming algorithm utilizing coordinate correction to simplify the bearing estimation model from two-dimensional (2D) to one-dimensional (1D). The improved algorithm corrects the deconvolution point spread function (PSF) dictionary mismatch caused by the platform’s 3D motion, and has lower sidelobes compared with the Ex-RL-dCv algorithm without coordinate correction. Finally, simulations and results from field-trial data processing are presented. The results demonstrate that the improved Ex-RL-dCv beamforming based on coordinate correction can significantly suppress the high sidelobes caused by deconvolution model mismatch, and successfully realize the robust and high-resolution detection for targets using the compact conformal array on a 3D mobile platform.