Line-of-Sight Detection for 5G Wireless Channels

With the rapid deployment of 5G wireless networks across the globe, precise positioning has become essential for many vertical industries reliant on 5G. The predominantly non-line-of-sight (NLOS) propagation instigated by the obstacles in the surrounding environment, especially in metro city areas, has made it particularly difficult to achieve high estimation accuracy for positioning algorithms that necessitate direct line-of-sight (LOS) transmission. In this scenario, correctly identifying the line-of-sight condition has become extremely crucial in precise positioning algorithms based on 5G. Even though numerous scientific studies have been conducted on LOS identification in the existing literature, most of these research works are based on either ultra-wideband or Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, this thesis focuses on this hitherto less investigated area of line-of-sight detection for 5G wireless channels. This thesis examines the feasibility of LOS detection using three widely used channel models, the Tapped Delay Line (TDL), the Clustered Delay Line (CDL), and the Winner II channel models. The 5G-based simulation environment was constructed with standard parameters based on 3GPP specifications using MATLAB computational platform for the research. LOS and NLOS channels were defined to transmit random signal samples for each channel model where the received signal was subjected to Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN), imitating the authentic propagation environment. Variable channel conditions were simulated by randomly alternating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal. The research mainly focuses on machine learning (ML) based LOS classification. Additionally, the threshold-based hypothesis was also deployed for the same scenarios as a benchmark. The main objectives of the thesis were to find the statistical features or the combination of statistical features of the channel impulse response (CIR) of the received signal, which provide the best results and to identify the most effective machine learning method for LOS/NLOS classification. Furthermore, the results were verified through actual measurement samples obtained during the NewSense project. The results indicate that the time-correlation feature of the channel impulse response used in isolation would be effective in LOS identification for 5G wireless channels. Additional derived features of the CIR do not significantly increase the classification accuracy. Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) were found to be more appropriate than Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) for LOS/NLOS classification. The study reinforced the significance of selecting the most suitable machine learning algorithm and kernel function as relevant for the task of obtaining the best results. The medium Gaussian support vector machines ML algorithm provided the overall highest precision in LOS classification for simulated data with up to 98% accuracy for the Winner II channel model with PRS. The machine learning algorithms proved to be considerably more effective than conventional threshold-based detection for both simulated and real measurement data. Additionally, the Winner II model with the richest features presented the best results compared with CDL and TDL channel models

Physical Layer Challenges and Solutions in Seamless Positioning via GNSS, Cellular and WLAN Systems

As different positioning applications have started to be a common part of our lives, positioning methods have to cope with increasing demands. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can offer accurate location estimate outdoors, but achieving seamless large-scale indoor localization remains still a challenging topic. The requirements for simple and cost-effective indoor positioning system have led to the utilization of wireless systems already available, such as cellular networks and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). One common approach with the advantage of a large-scale standard-independent implementation is based on the Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements.This thesis addresses both GNSS and non-GNSS positioning algorithms and aims to offer a compact overview of the wireless localization issues, concentrating on some of the major challenges and solutions in GNSS and RSS-based positioning. The GNSS-related challenges addressed here refer to the channel modelling part for indoor GNSS and to the acquisition part in High Sensitivity (HS)-GNSS. The RSSrelated challenges addressed here refer to the data collection and calibration, channel effects such as path loss and shadowing, and three-dimensional indoor positioning estimation.This thesis presents a measurement-based analysis of indoor channel models for GNSS signals and of path loss and shadowing models for WLAN and cellular signals. Novel low-complexity acquisition algorithms are developed for HS-GNSS. In addition, a solution to transmitter topology evaluation and database reduction solutions for large-scale mobile-centric RSS-based positioning are proposed. This thesis also studies the effect of RSS offsets in the calibration phase and various floor estimators, and offers an extensive comparison of different RSS-based positioning algorithms

Novel Models and Algorithms Paving the Road towards RF Convergence

After decades of rapid evolution in electronics and signal processing, the technologies in communications, positioning, and sensing have achieved considerable progress. Our daily lives are fundamentally changed and substantially defined by the advancement in these technologies. However, the trend is challenged by a well-established fact that the spectrum resources, like other natural resources, are gradually becoming scarce. This thesis carries out research in the field of RF convergence, which is regarded as a mean to intelligently exploit spectrum resources, e.g., by finding novel methods of optimising and sharing tasks between communication, positioning, and sensing. The work has been done to closely explore opportunities for supporting the RF convergence. As a supplement for the electromagnetic waves propagation near the ground, ground-to-air channel models are first proposed and analysed, by incorporating the atmospheric effects when the altitude of aerial users is higher than 300 m. The status quos of techniques in communications, positioning, and sensing are separately reviewed, and our newly developments in each field are briefly introduced. For instance, we study the MIMO techniques for interference mitigation on aerial users; we construct the reflected echoes, i.e., the radar receiving, for the joint sensing and communications system. The availability of GNSS signals is of vital importance to the GNSS-enabled services, particularly the life-critical applications. To enhance the resilience of GNSS receivers, the RF fingerprinting based anti-spoofing techniques are also proposed and discussed. Such a guarantee on GNSS and ubiquitous GNSS services drive the utilisation of location information, also needed for communications, hence the proposal of a location-based beamforming algorithm. The superposition coding scheme, as an attempt of the waveform design, is also brought up for the joint sensing and communications. The RF convergence will come with many facets: the joint sensing and communications promotes an efficient use of frequency spectrum; the positioning-aided communications encourage the cooperation between systems; the availability of robust global positioning systems benefits the applications relying on the GNSS service

Software defined radar system

Software defined radar concept and simulation -- Signal processing methods of synthetic software defined radar -- Mixer-based synthetic software defined radar -- Six-port-based syunthetic software defined radar -- Performance study of synthetic software defined radar

A Highly Efficient Generalized Teager-Kaiser-Based Technique for LOS Estimation in WCDMA Mobile Positioning

Line-of-sight signal delay estimation is a crucial element for any mobile positioning system. Estimating correctly the delay of the first arriving path is a challenging topic in severe propagation environments, such as closely spaced multipaths in multiuser scenario. Previous studies showed that there are many linear and nonlinear techniques able to solve closely spaced multipaths when the system is not bandlimited. However, using root raised cosine (RRC) pulse shaping introduces additional errors in the delay estimation process compared to the case with rectangular pulse shaping due to the inherent bandwidth limitation. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique for asynchronous WCDMA multipath delay estimation based on deconvolution with a suitable pulse shape, followed by Teager-Kaiser operator. The deconvolution stage is employed to reduce the effect of the bandlimiting pulse shape.</p