Low-Complexity Distributed Total Least Squares Estimation in Ad Hoc Sensor Networks

Total least squares (TLS) estimation is a popular solution technique for overdetermined systems of linear equations with a noisy data matrix. In this paper, we revisit the distributed total least squares (D-TLS) algorithm, which operates in an ad hoc network, where each node has access to a subset of the linear equations. The D-TLS algorithm computes the TLS solution of the full system of equations in a fully distributed fashion (without fusion center). To reduce the large computational complexity due to an eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) at every node and in each iteration, we modify the D-TLS algorithm based on inverse power iterations (IPIs). In each step of the modified algorithm, a single IPI is performed, which significantly reduces the computational complexity. We show that this IPI-based D-TLS algorithm still converges to the network-wide TLS solution under certain assumptions, which are often satisfied in practice. We provide simulation results to demonstrate the convergence of the algorithm, even when some of these assumptions are not satisfied.