MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD-ESTIMATION OF MULTIPLE SOURCES USING A LOCAL OPTIMIZATION METHOD

An effective method for solving a nonlinear optimizing problem is prop osed here. This method is based on the maximum likelihood estimation o f multiple sources by passive sensor array. The method employs the loc al optimization using the gradient of nonlinear function. Also describ ed is how to determine the effective initial values leading to the glo bal minimum but not to the local minimum. The proposed method in this paper easily obtained the optimized estimate of the maximum likelihood in multiple sources. This estimation usually requires great processin g time using conventional methods because of a heavy computing load. S ome simulations show that the proposed method has the properties of bo th better accuracy and lower computing time than a conventional method .