STTR Phase I: Test Methodology for MIMO Over the Air Testing in a Small Anechoic Chamber

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目将研究使用小型控制环境进行空中（OTA）测试和验证下一代无线网络多天线无线电系统的可行性。随着下一代无线网络中多输入多输出（MIMO）通信系统的普及，将需要新的测试和测量解决方案和标准。下一代设备的认证是一个昂贵且耗时的过程。测试MIMO系统的挑战是需要模拟真实的多路径环境，其中信号组件聚集在接收器周围。该项目在旨在减少执行MIMO/OTA测试所需的尺寸和资源的研究任务中具有独特的智力优势。拟议的研究将探讨减少用于MIMO/OTA测试的消声室的物理尺寸的方法，同时仍然准确地模拟无线电信道的统计特性。另一个独特的优点提出的工作是调查技术，以增加集群的数量在一个小的测试室。这项研究的结果将对测试和验证的成本产生重大影响。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是降低无线设备认证的成本，使更广泛的人口，包括目前接入互联网有限的农村社区，更能负担得起宽带连接。随着无线通信需求的增加，频谱效率已成为国家关注的焦点。此外，美国白宫已经启动了一项宽带计划，以增加全国的高速网络接入。将宽带带到农村社区的问题之一是无线设备强制认证的费用。使用小型消声室测试和认证新一代MIMO无线设备的可行性可以使年轻公司更有效地与老牌供应商竞争。更小、更实惠的实验室也有望扩大研究设施和实验室的数量，从而促进新一代无线电技术的部署。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will investigate the feasibility of using a small controlled environment for over-the-air (OTA) testing and validation of multiple antenna radio systems for next generation wireless networks. With the prevalence of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications systems for next generation wireless networks, new test and measurement solutions and standards will be required. Certification of next generation devices is an expensive and time-consuming process. The challenge of testing MIMO systems is the need to emulate real-life multipath environment with signal components clustered around the receiver. This project has unique intellectual merits in the research tasks that aim to reduce the size and resources required to perform MIMO/OTA testing. The proposed research will investigate methods of reducing the physical dimensions of an anechoic chamber used for MIMO/OTA testing while still accurately emulating statistical properties of the radio channel. Another unique merit of the proposed work is investigation of techniques to increase the number of clusters in a small test chamber. The outcome of this research will have a significant impact on the cost of testing and validation.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be reduced cost of wireless device certification, making broadband connectivity more affordable to a wider population, including rural communities that currently have limited access to the Internet. As the demand for wireless communications has increased, spectral efficiency has become a key national interest. Further, the US White House has launched a broadband initiative to increase access to high speed networking throughout the country. One of the issues with bringing broadband to rural communities is the cost of mandatory certification of wireless devices. The feasibility of using small anechoic chambers for the test and certification of new generation MIMO wireless devices can enable young companies to more effectively compete with the established vendors. Smaller and more affordable chambers also hold the promise of expanding the number of research facilities and laboratories that can contribute their findings and thus facilitate the deployment of new generation radio technology.