Robust Blind Algorithm for DOA Estimation Using TDOA Consensus

This paper proposes a robust blind algorithm for direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in challenging acoustic environments. The method introduces a novel Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) consensus framework that effectively identifies and filters outliers using Median and Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) statistics. By combining this consensus approach with whitening transformation and Lawson norm optimization, the algorithm achieves superior performance in noisy and reverberant conditions. Comprehensive simulations demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms traditional approaches and modern alternatives such as SRP-PHAT and robust MUSIC, particularly in environments with high reverberation times and low signal-to-noise ratios. The algorithm’s robustness to impulsive noise and varying microphone array configurations is also evaluated. Results show consistent improvements in DOA estimation accuracy across diverse acoustic scenarios, with root mean square error (RMSE) reductions of up to 30% compared to standard methods. The computational complexity analysis confirms the algorithm’s feasibility for real-time applications with appropriate implementation optimizations, showing significant improvements in estimation accuracy compared to conventional approaches, particularly in highly reverberant conditions and under impulsive noise. The proposed algorithm maintains consistent performance without requiring prior knowledge of the acoustic environment, making it suitable for real-world applications.