An Improved Broadband Target Orientation Method Using a Vector Hydrophone Vertical Array

An improved broadband target orientation method using a vector hydrophone vertical array (VHVA) is proposed. This method addresses the issue of low target orientation accuracy in deep-sea environments when using a single vector hydrophone. The pressure sub-array and particle velocity sub-arrays are beamformed first. Then, the output beams of each sub-array are compensated based on the target elevation angles, and an “equivalent vector element” is constructed. Finally, the target azimuth is determined by applying the MUSIC algorithm to a single vector hydrophone. This method utilizes the array gain of sub-arrays to improve the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and employs the high-resolution MUSIC algorithm to minimize orientation errors. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that this method effectively improves the orientation accuracy in comparison to the single-vector hydrophone orientation method and the multi-vector hydrophone data fusion method.