An Improved LCMV Beamforming Algorithm in Multi-beam Bathymetry Sonars

Abstract

Most of the existing multi-beam bathymetric sonars are based on conventional beamforming algorithms, but it is difficult to break through the Rayleigh limit. In this paper, a linear constrained minimum variance beamforming algorithm is discussed and used in multi-beam sonars. It is shown that the algorithm is of higher main lobe constraints, lower sidelobe level, while the convergence speed was slow. In order to realize in practical application, an improved LCMV beamforming algorithm is introduced to it and its computation and convergence speed were analyzed in detail. Simulation results show that the improved algorithm has faster convergence speed. In the end, the improved algorithm was also used to process the bathymetric data and the corresponding results show that it has higher resolution and good directional ability.