Covariance matrix estimation is a ubiquitous problem in signal processing. In most modern signal processing applications, data are generally modeled by non-Gaussian distributions with covariance matrices exhibiting a particular structure. Taking into account this structure and the non-Gaussian behavior improve drastically the estimation accuracy. In this paper, we consider the estimation of structured scatter matrix for complex elliptically distributed observations, where the assumed model can differ from the actual distribution of the observations. Specifically, we tackle this problem, in a mismatched framework, by proposing a novel estimator, named StructurEd ScAtter Matrix Estimator (SESAME), which is based on a two-step estimation procedure. We conduct theoretical analysis on the unbiasedness and the asymptotic efficiency and Gaussianity of SESAME. In addition, we derive a recursive estimation procedure that iteratively applies the SESAME method, called Recursive-SESAME (R-SESAME), reaching with improved performance at lower sample support the (Mismatched) Cramér-Rao Bound. Furthermore, we show that some special cases of the proposed method allow to retrieve preexisting methods. Finally, numerical results corroborate the theoretical analysis and assess the usefulness of the proposed algorithms.

The spherically invariant random process (SIRP) clutter model is commonly used in scenarios where the radar clutter cannot be correctly modeled as a Gaussian process. In this short communication, we devise a novel Maximum-Likelihood (ML)-based iterative estimator for direction-of-departure and direction-of-arrival estimation in the Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar context in the presence of SIRP clutter. The proposed estimator employs a stepwise numerical concentration approach w.r.t. the objective function related to the marginal likelihood of the observation data. Our estimator leads to superior performance, as our simulations show, w.r.t. to the existing likelihood based methods, namely, the conventional, the conditional and the joint likelihood based estimators, and w.r.t. the robust subspace decomposition based methods. Finally, interconnections and comparison between the Iterative Marginal ML Estimator (IMMLE), Iterative Joint ML Estimator (IJMLE) and Iterative Conditional ML Estimator (ICdMLE) are provided.

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The estimation of covariance matrices is a core problem in many modern adaptive signal processing applications. For matrix-and array-valued data, e.g., MIMO communication, EEG/MEG (time versus channel), the covariance matrix of vectorized data may belong to the non-convex set of Kronecker product structure. In addition, the Kronecker factors can also exhibit an additional linear structure. Taking this prior knowledge into account during the estimation process drastically reduces the amount of unknown parameters, and then improves the estimation accuracy. On the other hand, the broad class of complex elliptically symmetric distributions, as well as the related complex angular elliptical distribution, are particularly suited to model heavy-tailed multivariate data. In this context, we first establish novel robust estimators of scatter and shape matrices (both related to a covariance matrix), having a Kronecker product structure with linearly structured Kronecker factors. Then, we conduct a theoretical analysis of their asymptotic performance (i.e., consistency, asymptotic distribution and efficiency), in matched and mismatched scenarios, i.e., when misspecifications between the true and assumed models occur. Finally, numerical results illustrate the theoretical analysis and assess the usefulness of the proposed estimators.