DOA-estimation based on a complex Watson kernel method

This contribution presents a Direction of Arrival (DoA) estimation algorithm based on the complex Watson distribution to incorporate both phase and level differences of captured microphone array signals. The derived algorithm is reviewed in the context of the Generalized State Coherence Transform (GSCT) on the one hand and a kernel density estimation method on the other hand. A thorough simulative evaluation yields insight into parameter selection and provides details on the performance for both directional and omni-directional microphones. A comparison to the well known Steered Response Power with Phase Transform (SRP-PHAT) algorithm and a state of the art DoA estimator which explicitly accounts for aliasing, shows in particular the advantages of presented algorithm if inter-sensor level differences are indicative of the DoA, as with directional microphones.