The Problem:
Radio direction finding is a technique used to determine the angle of arrival (AoA) of an incoming radio-frequency wave signal to understand the propagation environment in urban and suburban settings. The AoA estimation is widely utilized in emergency services, geolocation of cell phones, amateur HAM radios, and will serve in connecting future city infrastructure. Traditional direction-finding systems employ a multiple-antenna system with multiple receivers which use complex algorithms to estimate the AoA . Although such systems are accurate, they require multiple receivers, complex algorithms, and are often expensive, cumbersome, and bulky.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Alabama have developed a low cost, highly portable, and small form factor software-defined radio (SDR) based Pseudo-Doppler Antenna Array (PDAA), which is capable of operating both direction finding and channel sounding at 2.4 GHz, and a corresponding channel sounding and direction finding algorithm. This invention combines channel sounding and direction finding hardware and software into one portable package, reducing weight, cost, complexity, and power consumption.
Hardware of Invented Antenna Array System
System Setup for Indoor Location
Benefits:
• Potential 5G applications.
• Portable, less bulky.
• Reduces cost.
• Reduces power consumption.
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