Adaptive Quasi-Cross-Product Algorithm for Uni-Tripole Tracking of Moving Source

The tripole antenna or dipole triad, in contrast with the complete electromagnetic vector-sensor, has a simpler structure and is of low cost. In this contribution, we propose a new quasi-cross-product algorithm for tracking the direction to a moving and nonlinearly polarized electromagnetic source by using a tripole antenna instead of a complete vector-sensor. While this quasi-cross-product algorithm has a similar form to the cross-product algorithm by Nehorai for a complete electromagnetic vector-sensor, the former computes the cross-product of two noncollinear real electric vectors that are both perpendicular to the propagation vector of the signal whereas the latter performs the cross-product of a couple of electric and magnetic vectors. Numerical examples are included to validate the proposed algorithms.