Line-of-sight angle of arrival estimation in the outdoor multipath environment

Angle of arrival (AOA) estimation utilizing the MUltiple Signal Identification and Classification (MUSIC) algorithm is investigated for land vehicle location systems. A "virtual" antenna array is used to overcome problems inherent to MUSIC when operating in a highly correlated signal environment. Based on assumptions regarding the multipath radio environment, triangulation is possible by estimating the AOA of the line-of-sight (LOS) component in the received signal. Computer simulations are used to analyze the ability of techniques incorporating MUSIC to achieve this. Since triangulation is achieved using a narrowband signal, no new spectrum is required. Instead, the current cellular telephone bands as well as the existing basestation hardware could be exploited resulting in a cost-efficient and easily implemented system. A further cost reduction may be realized by processing received signal data while travelling along a nonlinear trajectory. In this way, an unambiguous angular spectrum is obtained with one antenna.