Adaptive Conformal Arrays for Next-Generation Wireless Communications

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0098547VirgaThe rapid explosion in the number of wireless communications systems demands an everincreasing system performance capacity. It is imperative that innovative design paradigms thatmaximize system performance be pursued. Significant attention has been given to maximizingperformance in the communications protocols, while less has been given to the systemthroughput available from "smart" array antenna design. Adaptive conformal antenna arrays arearrays with radiating elements that are placed in arbitrary locations and the elements may bedirected in different directions. The interest in adaptive conformal antennas at the base stationand on the mobile terminals is motivated by previous work reported on indoor wireless channelsand on novel space-time coding techniques that suggests the use of conformal arrays improvesthe reliability of the communications over multi-path propagation effects and fading, and ingeneral, improves the overall quality of service of the entire wireless network.This proposal addresses the development of simulation, design, and analysis approaches foradaptive conformal array antennas and provides an in-depth investigation to quantify theperformance capabilities available from conformal arrays. The result will be a new class of arrayantennas and design tools for fourth generation wireless systems and beyond. This work will befocused in two main areas. The first area involves developing novel simulation algorithms tounderstand how the particular array weights for several conformal array configurationsinfluences the spatial distribution of the transmitted or received signal. This work will includethe development efficient tools to determine the optimal set array weights necessary to obtain aspecified spatial response. The research will use the results of previous antenna modeling effortsto factor in the effects of realistic designs of typical antenna elements, (element patterns, gainand phase imbalance, and mutual coupling etc.) and real-time processing resources. The secondarea involves developing processing methods to determine space-time characteristics forconformal arrays. This will allow the determination of the angle-of-arrival of an incoming signaland will allow the PI's to adapt the array weights in order to maximize signal to noise ratio and quality of the wireless channel.The intellectual and creative aspects of the proposed activities include advancing thestate-of-the-art for general conformal array antennas for wireless communications, implementingevolutionary programming methods that take into account multi-design criteria for conformalantenna arrays, quantifying fundamental characteristic design formulas to understand thecapabilities and limitations of conformal array antennas, and utilizing directional elements in thedesign of conformal arrays and quantifying the performance enhancements obtained from the useof directional elements in conformal arrays. Other activities include investigating the mutualcoupling between radiators in conformal arrays, and developing novel adaptive processingmethods specifically for conformal arrays for angle-of-arrival and time-of-arrival estimation. ThePIs plan to interface with research activities in this proposal with work in a wireless networkingproject when applicable. This will have broader impact beyond the research described in thepresent proposal.