Fast method for estimation of the number of spatial signals

Estimation of the number of spatial spreaded signals is one of the key problems in array signal processing community. In this paper, we present a fast detection method via modified Hung-Turner projection (FDM-MHTP) for solving the problem. A threshold is derived exploiting the asymptotic distribution properties of the estimation errors of the sample covariance matrix. The threshold is used to detect the number of signal sources in conjunction with performing Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization onto the columns of the sample covariance matrix. Without eigenvalue decomposition, the proposed method has good detection performance and low computational complexity. Computer simulation shows the correctness and efficiency of the method.