Distance Estimation Error in a Bistatic Positioning System Using an Acoustic Vector Sensor

The acoustic vector sensors are small in size and light in weight. It is convenient to deploy in the engineering application of small underwater platforms and is suitable for dealing with the problem of target detection and positioning in underwater distributed detection systems. Based on the bistatic positioning system model using an acoustic vector sensor as the receiver, the target distance estimation error and its influence factors are analyzed in detail. The research results show that the main influence factors of the bistatic distance estimation using the acoustic vector sensor are the baseline measurement error, sound velocity fluctuation, azimuth estimation error and time delay estimation error. In the computer simulation, the different variation surfaces of distance estimation error under specific system parameter constraints are given in detail. The theoretical analysis results provide a theoretical basis for the practical engineering application of the bistatic positioning system with the acoustic vector sensor as the receiver, and have certain engineering application research value.