RII Track-4: Investigating 3-D Dispersed Smart Antenna Arrays for Nearly Full Spherical Scanning by New Radios (NRs)

现有的4G蜂窝系统已经将其能力扩展到极限，无法再扩展或逐步改进，以满足对高带宽消耗移动服务日益增长的需求。随着移动应用对大带宽和高数据速率的需求空前高涨，未来5G（第5代）移动终端必须在未使用的毫米波（mmWave）频段上运行。此外，预计将继续需要现有的较低频率4G频段来实现广域覆盖。在本项目中，建议研究面向未来5G新无线电（nr）的新一代智能分散阵列天线架构的性能。毫米波阵列将集成到最近设计的4G/LTE多时隙天线中，用于4G网络小区和未来5G异构小区之间的互操作性。这将为现有和新兴的互联服务提供一个统一的连接平台。该奖学金将为PI和研究生提供一个独特的机会，可以使用最先进的设施和先进的制造设备。项目成果将用于吸引少数民族和代表性不足群体的成员参加墨西哥湾沿岸地区的工程教育。这也将促进南阿拉巴马大学的发展。这一举措旨在吸引优秀的本科生，并在墨西哥湾沿岸和阿拉巴马州推动新的以移动为基础的经济发展机会。技术描述该项目的目标是研究3d分散天线阵列的性能，该阵列将在未来5G网络的多个移动终端平面上实施，称为新无线电（nr）。本文将研究分散在不同平面上的正交阵列在近全球面区域的多输入多输出（MIMO）操作和波束扫描。小型化超表面启发天线阵列单元将基于dolphi -Tschebysheff振幅加权，其中单元的激励系数将与Tschebysheff多项式相关。针对各平面窄波束宽度的精细扫描步长，将开发智能波束形成算法。两种类型的阵列元件将集成到新设计的基于多时隙的4G MIMO天线系统中，该系统将使nr能够在几乎所有4G/LTE频段以及多个毫米波频段（如28 GHz和39 GHz）中运行。这将使nr能够为现有和未来的无线服务提供统一的连接平台。配备先进波束形成和相关馈电网络的分散阵列将使用3D打印技术开发。在这个合作项目中，PI Latif和一名研究生将对智能阵列进行建模、仿真和设计，并实施多个原型，并评估LTE和5G天线系统的MIMO性能。拟议的项目将为PI提供一个强大的平台，在南阿拉巴马大学开发一个蓬勃发展的研究项目，对他在5G/毫米波技术领域的研究生涯产生长期影响，这将有利于阿拉巴马州的其他学术机构、无线和汽车行业。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Description The existing 4G cellular systems have stretched their capabilities to a limit that they can no longer be extended or incrementally improved to meet the mounting demand for high bandwidth-consumptive mobile services. As the demand for large bandwidth and high data rate for mobile applications is at all-time high, future 5G (5th Generation) mobile terminals must operate at unused millimeter wave (mmWave) bands. It is also expected that existing lower frequency 4G bands will continue to be needed for wide area coverage. In this project, it is proposed to investigate the performance of a new generation of smart dispersed array antenna architecture for future 5G new radios (NRs). The mmWave arrays will be integrated into recently designed 4G/LTE multi-slot antennas for interoperability between cells of 4G networks and future 5G heterogeneous cells. This will provide a unified connectivity platform for existing and emerging connected services. This fellowship will be a unique opportunity for the PI and a graduate student to access state-of-the-art facilities and advanced fabrication equipment. The project outcomes will be utilized to attract members of minority and underrepresented groups to engineering education in the Gulf Coast region. This will also boost the University of South Alabama?s recruiting effort to attract outstanding undergraduate students, and drive up new mobile-based economic development opportunities in the Gulf Coast and in the State of Alabama.Technical DescriptionThe objective of project is to investigate the performance of 3-D dispersed antenna arrays that will be implemented in multiple planes of mobile terminals for future 5G networks, called New Radios (NRs). Orthogonal arrays dispersedly located on various planes of NRs will be studied for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) operation and beam scanning in nearly full spherical region. Miniaturized metasurface-inspired antenna array elements will be based on Dolph-Tschebysheff amplitude weighting, where excitation co-efficient of elements will be related to Tschebysheff polynomials. Smart beamforming algorithm will be developed for a fine scan step with narrow beamwidths in all planes. Two types of array elements will be integrated into a newly designed 4G multi-slot-based MIMO antenna system that will enable NRs to operate in almost all 4G/LTE bands, and multiple mmWave bands, such as 28 GHz and 39 GHz. This will enable NRs with a harmonized connectivity platform for existing and future wireless services. Dispersed arrays, equipped with advanced beamforming and associated feed networks will be developed using 3D printing technology. In this collaborative project, PI Latif and a graduate student will model, simulate and design smart arrays, and implement several prototypes and evaluate the MIMO performance of both LTE and 5G antenna systems. The proposed project will provide the PI a strong platform to develop a thriving research program at the University of South Alabama with a long-lasting impact on his research career in the field of 5G/mmWave technology, that will be benefit other academic institutions, and wireless and auto industries in the State of Alabama.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.