• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.330-336
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• 2022

This paper proposes a method to calibrate the electrode misplacement in underwater electric field sensor arrays (EFSAs) for accurate measurements of underwater electric field signatures. The electrode misplacement of an EFSA was estimated by measuring the electric field signatures generated by a known electric source and by comparing the measurements with the theoretical calculations under similar measurement conditions. When the EFSA measured the electric field signatures induced by an unknown electric source, the electric properties of the unknown electric source were approximated by considering the optimized estimation of the electrode misplacement of the EFSA. Finally, the measured electric field signatures were calibrated by calculating the theoretical electric field signatures to be measured with an ideally installed EFSA without electrode misplacement; the approximated electric properties of the unknown electric source were also taken into account. Simulations were conducted to test the proposed calibration method. The results showed that the electrode misplacement could be estimated. Further, the electric field measurements and the electric field-based localization of underwater vessels became more accurate after the application of the proposed calibration method. The proposed method will contribute to applications such as the detection and localization of underwater electric sources, which require accurate measurements of underwater electric field signatures.