High-Resolution Azimuth Estimation Method Based on a Pressure-Gradient MEMS Vector Hydrophone

The pressure-gradient Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) vector hydrophone is a novel type of sensor capable of simultaneously acquiring both scalar and vectorial information within an acoustic field. Conventional azimuth estimation methods struggle to achieve high-resolution localization using a single pressure-gradient MEMS vector hydrophone. In practical marine environments, the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm is hampered by significant resolution performance loss. Similarly, the complex acoustic intensity (CAI) method is constrained by a high-resolution threshold for multiple targets, often resulting in inaccurate azimuth estimates. Therefore, a cross-spectral model between the acoustic pressure and the particle velocity for the pressure-gradient MEMS vector hydrophone was established. Integrated with an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm, a high-resolution azimuth estimation method utilizing this hydrophone is proposed. Furthermore, the corresponding Cramér-Rao Bound is derived. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm accurately resolves two targets separated by only 5° at a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 5 dB, boasting a root mean square error of approximately 0.35° and a 100% success rate. Compared with the CAI method and the MUSIC algorithm, the proposed method achieves a lower resolution threshold and higher estimation accuracy, alongside low computational complexity that enables efficient real-time processing. Field tests in an actual seawater environment validate the algorithm’s high-resolution performance as predicted by simulations, thus confirming its practical efficacy. The proposed algorithm addresses key limitations in underwater detection by enhancing system robustness and offering high-resolution azimuth estimation. This capability holds promise for extending to multi-target scenarios in complex marine settings.