25 research outputs found
Secondary user access for IoT applications in the FM radio band using FS-FBMC
In this paper a Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) Physical layer (PHY) technique is proposed that allows Secondary User (SU) access to the traditional FM Radio spectrum (88-108 MHz) for alternative data communication applications. FM radio waves have excellent propagation characteristics for long distance transmission, and have high levels of penetration through buildings. Using tools such as a structured geolocation database of licensed Primary User (PU) FM Radio transmitters, unlicensed SUs can access portions of the 20 MHz-wide band and transmit signals that place spectral ‘holes’ with suitable guard bands around all known PUs. Based on the PU protection ratios published by Ofcom and the FCC, the operation of a FBMC (Filter Bank Multi-Carrier) transmitter is demonstrated for an urban environment, and through ‘field test’ simulation it is shown that the Out Of Band (OOB) leakage of the proposed PHY (energy in the ‘holes’ that can interfere with the PU) is 47 dB lower than that of using an equivalent OFDM PHY. The results show that the proposed PHY is a suitable candidate for DSA-SU communication (e.g. in smart city IoT applications), whilst ensuring the integrity of incumbent PU signals
Rapid prototyping and validation of FS-FBMC dynamic spectrum radio with simulink and ZynqSDR
This paper presents the research carried out in developing and targeting a novel real-time Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) Frequency Spread Filter Bank Multicarrier (FS-FBMC) transmitter prototype to programmable ‘ZynqSDR’ Software Defined Radio (SDR) hardware, and introduces a series of experiments used to validate the design’s ‘cognitive’ DSA capabilities. This transmitter is a proof of concept, that uses DSA techniques to enable Secondary Users (SUs) to access the band traditionally used for FM Radio broadcasting (88-108 MHz), and establish data communication channels in vacant parts of the FM Radio Primary User (PU) spectrum using a multicarrier modulation scheme with a Non Contiguous (NC) channel mask. Once implemented on the hardware, the transmitter is subjected to various FM Radio environments sampled from around Central Scotland, and it is demonstrated that it can dynamically adapt its NC transmitter mask in real time to protect the FM Radio signals it detects. A video is presented of this dynamic on-hardware spectral reconfiguration, and the reader is encouraged to view the video to appreciate the responsiveness of the design. An investigation into potential FBMC guardband sizes is carried out, with initial findings indicating a guardband of 200 kHz (either side of an FM Radio station) is required in order to prevent interference with the PUs. This paper also demonstrates the capabilities of the MATLAB®/ Simulink ZynqSDR workflow, and provides a case study and reference design that we feel other researchers working in this field can benefit from
A survey of 5G technologies: regulatory, standardization and industrial perspectives
In recent years, there have been significant developments in the research on 5th Generation (5G) networks. Several enabling technologies are being explored for the 5G mobile system era. The aim is to evolve a cellular network that is intrinsically flexible and remarkably pushes forward the limits of legacy mobile systems across all dimensions of performance metrics. All the stakeholders, such as regulatory bodies, standardization authorities, industrial fora, mobile operators and vendors, must work in unison to bring 5G to fruition. In this paper, we aggregate the 5G-related information coming from the various stakeholders, in order to i) have a comprehensive overview of 5G and ii) to provide a survey of the envisioned 5G technologies; their development thus far from the perspective of those stakeholders will open up new frontiers of services and applications for next-generation wireless networks. Keywords: 5G, ITU, Next-generation wireless network
A hybrid-structure offset-QAM filter-bank multi-carrier MIMO system
Offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) filter-bank multi-carrier (FBMC), has great potential for boosting the spectral efficiency (SE) and energy efficiency (EE) of future communication systems. This is due to its superior spectral localization, CP-less transmission and relaxed synchronization requirements. Our research focuses on three main OQAM/FBMC research problems: the computational complexity reduction taking equalization into consideration, its integration with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and its high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). OQAM/FBMC systems are mainly implemented either using frequency spreading (FS) or polyphase network (PPN) techniques. The PPN technique is generally less complex, but when using frequency domain equalization (FDE) to equalize multipath channel effects at the receiver, there is a computational complexity overhead when using PPN. A novel hybrid-structure OQAM/FBMC MIMO space-frequency block coding (SFBC) system is proposed, to achieve the lowest possible overall complexity in conjunction with FDE at the receiver in frequency selective Rayleigh fading channel. The Alamouti SFBC block coding is performed on the complex-orthogonal signal before OQAM processing, which resolves the problems of intrinsic interference when integrating OQAM/FBMC with MIMO. In better multipath channel conditions with a line-of-sight (LOS) path, a zero-forcing (ZF) time domain equalization (TDE) is exploited to further reduce the computational complexity with comparable performance bit-error-rate (BER). On the other hand, to tackle the high PAPR problem of the OQAM/FBMC system in the uplink, a novel single carrier (SC)-OQAM/FBMC MIMO system is proposed. The system uses DFT-spreading applied to the OQAM modulated signal, along with interleaved subcarrier mapping to significantly reduce the PAPR and enhance the BER performance over Rayleigh fading channels, with relatively low additional computational complexity compared to the original complexity of the FBMC system and compared to other FBMC PAPR reduction techniques.The proposed hybrid-structure system has shown significant BER performance in frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels compared to OFDM, with significantly lower OOB emissions in addition to the enhanced SE due to the absence of CP. In mild multipath fading channels with a LOS component, the PPN OQAM/FBMC MIMO using TDE has a comparable BER performance with significantly less computational complexity. As for the uplink, the SC-OQAM/FBMC MIMO system significantly reduces the PAPR and enhances the BER performance, with relatively low additional computational complexity
Modelling, Dimensioning and Optimization of 5G Communication Networks, Resources and Services
This reprint aims to collect state-of-the-art research contributions that address challenges in the emerging 5G networks design, dimensioning and optimization. Designing, dimensioning and optimization of communication networks resources and services have been an inseparable part of telecom network development. The latter must convey a large volume of traffic, providing service to traffic streams with highly differentiated requirements in terms of bit-rate and service time, required quality of service and quality of experience parameters. Such a communication infrastructure presents many important challenges, such as the study of necessary multi-layer cooperation, new protocols, performance evaluation of different network parts, low layer network design, network management and security issues, and new technologies in general, which will be discussed in this book
Unified Framework for Multicarrier and Multiple Access based on Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing
The advancements in wireless communications are the key-enablers of new applications with stringent requirements in low-latency, ultra-reliability, high data rate, high mobility, and massive connectivity. Diverse types of devices, ranging from tiny sensors to vehicles, with different capabilities need to be connected under various channel conditions. Thus, modern connectivity and network techniques at all layers are essential to overcome these challenges. In particular, the physical layer (PHY) transmission is required to achieve certain link reliability, data rate, and latency. In modern digital communications systems, the transmission is performed by means of a digital signal processing module that derives analog hardware. The performance of the analog part is influenced by the quality of the hardware and the baseband signal denoted as waveform. In most of the modern systems such as fifth generation (5G) and WiFi, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is adopted as a favorite waveform due to its low-complexity advantages in terms of signal processing. However, OFDM requires strict requirements on hardware quality.
Many devices are equipped with simplified analog hardware to reduce the cost. In this case, OFDM does not work properly as a result of its high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and sensitivity to synchronization errors. To tackle these problems, many waveforms design have been recently proposed in the literature. Some of these designs are modified versions of OFDM or based on conventional single subcarrier. Moreover, multicarrier frameworks, such as generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), have been proposed to realize varieties of conventional waveforms. Furthermore, recent studies show the potential of using non-conventional waveforms for increasing the link reliability with affordable complexity. Based on that, flexible waveforms and transmission techniques are necessary to adapt the system for different hardware and channel constraints in order to fulfill the applications requirements while optimizing the resources.
The objective of this thesis is to provide a holistic view of waveforms and the related multiple access (MA) techniques to enable efficient study and evaluation of different approaches. First, the wireless communications system is reviewed with specific focus on the impact of hardware impairments and the wireless channel on the waveform design. Then, generalized model of waveforms and MA are presented highlighting various special cases. Finally, this work introduces low-complexity architectures for hardware implementation of flexible waveforms. Integrating such designs with software-defined radio (SDR) contributes to the development of practical real-time flexible PHY.:1 Introduction
1.1 Baseband transmission model
1.2 History of multicarrier systems
1.3 The state-of-the-art waveforms
1.4 Prior works related to GFDM
1.5 Objective and contributions
2 Fundamentals of Wireless Communications
2.1 Wireless communications system
2.2 RF transceiver
2.2.1 Digital-analogue conversion
2.2.2 QAM modulation
2.2.3 Effective channel
2.2.4 Hardware impairments
2.3 Waveform aspects
2.3.1 Single-carrier waveform
2.3.2 Multicarrier waveform
2.3.3 MIMO-Waveforms
2.3.4 Waveform performance metrics
2.4 Wireless Channel
2.4.1 Line-of-sight propagation
2.4.2 Multi path and fading process
2.4.3 General baseband statistical channel model
2.4.4 MIMO channel
2.5 Summary
3 Generic Block-based Waveforms
3.1 Block-based waveform formulation
3.1.1 Variable-rate multicarrier
3.1.2 General block-based multicarrier model
3.2 Waveform processing techniques
3.2.1 Linear and circular filtering
3.2.2 Windowing
3.3 Structured representation
3.3.1 Modulator
3.3.2 Demodulator
3.3.3 MIMO Waveform processing
3.4 Detection
3.4.1 Maximum-likelihood detection
3.4.2 Linear detection
3.4.3 Iterative Detection
3.4.4 Numerical example and insights
3.5 Summary
4 Generic Multiple Access Schemes 57
4.1 Basic multiple access and multiplexing schemes
4.1.1 Infrastructure network system model
4.1.2 Duplex schemes
4.1.3 Common multiplexing and multiple access schemes
4.2 General multicarrier-based multiple access
4.2.1 Design with fixed set of pulses
4.2.2 Computational model
4.2.3 Asynchronous multiple access
4.3 Summary
5 Time-Frequency Analyses of Multicarrier
5.1 General time-frequency representation
5.1.1 Block representation
5.1.2 Relation to Zak transform
5.2 Time-frequency spreading
5.3 Time-frequency block in LTV channel
5.3.1 Subcarrier and subsymbol numerology
5.3.2 Processing based on the time-domain signal
5.3.3 Processing based on the frequency-domain signal
5.3.4 Unified signal model
5.4 summary
6 Generalized waveforms based on time-frequency shifts
6.1 General time-frequency shift
6.1.1 Time-frequency shift design
6.1.2 Relation between the shifted pulses
6.2 Time-frequency shift in Gabor frame
6.2.1 Conventional GFDM
6.3 GFDM modulation
6.3.1 Filter bank representation
6.3.2 Block representation
6.3.3 GFDM matrix structure
6.3.4 GFDM demodulator
6.3.5 Alternative interpretation of GFDM
6.3.6 Orthogonal modulation and GFDM spreading
6.4 Summary
7 Modulation Framework: Architectures and Applications
7.1 Modem architectures
7.1.1 General modulation matrix structure
7.1.2 Run-time flexibility
7.1.3 Generic GFDM-based architecture
7.1.4 Flexible parallel multiplications architecture
7.1.5 MIMO waveform architecture
7.2 Extended GFDM framework
7.2.1 Architectures complexity and flexibility analysis
7.2.2 Number of multiplications
7.2.3 Hardware analysis
7.3 Applications of the extended GFDM framework
7.3.1 Generalized FDMA
7.3.2 Enchantment of OFDM system
7.4 Summary
7 Conclusions and Future work
Diseño y evaluación de nuevas formas e onda para comunicaciones de alta movilidad
Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Tecnoloxías da Información e Comunicación en Redes Móbiles. 553V01[Resumo]
Os servizos multimedia e de datos experimentaron un crecemento continuo nos últimos anos e espérase
que crezan aínda máis nos anos seguintes. A xente está a usar cada vez máis os seus dispositivos
móbiles para acceder a servizos baseados en datos para fins relacionados co traballo, entretemento ou
socialización en liña. Ademais, as comunicacións masivas de tipo máquina tamén están en ascenso
(por exemplo, as comunicacións en transporte e loxística, sensores, Internet das cousas, etc.), e serán
moi importantes para a nova xeración de sistemas de comunicacións sen fíos. Para afrontar o aumento
esperado no uso de servizos multimedia e baseado en datos, así como para soportar novos casos de uso
que hoxe non son posibles, unha nova xeración de redes sen fíos é necesaria. Para iso, espérase que
os sistemas de comunicación sen fíos 5G traian as melloras necesarias: maiores taxas de datos, baixas
latencias, mellor eficiencia enerxética, alta fiabilidade, etc.
O coñecemento das características da canle sen fíos é fundamental para a planificación das redes
de comunicación sen fíos e o deseño de transceptores. Como primeiro paso, centramos este traballo na
caracterización completa da canle para diferentes escenarios, como son os trens de alta velocidade, metro
e comunicacións vehículo a infraestrutura en estradas. A canle caracterizouse mediante a avaliación da
relación sinal a ruído, a perda de traxecto (path loss) e os chamados parámetros condensados da canle (por
exemplo, o factor K, o perfil potencia-retardo (power delay profile) e a densidade espectral de potencia Doppler. Ademais, para a nova interface aérea das redes 5G, unha das principais cuestións foi a forma de
onda a usar. Finalmente, o 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decidiu usar a tecnoloxía de
multiplexación por división de frecuencias ortogonais (OFDM polas súas siglas en inglés). Isto semella
unha elección natural debido ás moitas vantaxes de OFDM e que tamén é a técnica de modulación
empregada nas redes 4G. Con todo, nos últimos anos, esquemas multiportadora baseados en bancos de
filtros (FBMC polas súas siglas en inglés) recibiron unha grande atención como alternativa a OFDM
debido ás súas vantaxes: non utilizan un prefixo cíclico (proporcionan unha maior eficiencia espectral),
os usuarios non precisan ser sincronizados no enlace ascendente, e un mellor rendemento teórico
en contornas de alta velocidade debido a unha menor interferencia entre portadoras. Neste traballo
comparamos experimentalmente o rendemento de FBMC e OFDM en contornas de alta velocidade.
Tamén analizamos o rendemento de FBMC e OFDM no caso de uso práctico dun vehículo aéreo
lixeiro pilotado remotamente. A maior parte do traballo realizado nesta tese requiriu o deseño e
desenvolvemento do chamado GTEC 5G Simulator, que foi usado en conxunto co GTEC Testbed para
realizar a maior parte das campañas de medicións e avaliacións de rendemento mediante transmisións
polo aire.[Resumen]
Los servicios multimedia y basados en datos experimentaron un crecimiento sin interrupciones en los
últimos años, y se espera que crezcan aún más en los años siguientes. Las personas utilizan cada
vez más sus dispositivos móviles para acceder a los servicios basados en datos con fines relacionados
con el trabajo, el entretenimiento o la socialización en línea. Además, las comunicaciones masivas
de tipo máquina también están en aumento (por ejemplo, comunicaciones en transporte y logística,
sensores, Internet de las cosas, etc.) y serán muy importantes para la nueva generación de sistemas de
comunicaciones inalámbricos. Para hacer frente al aumento esperado en el uso de servicios multimedia
y basados en datos, así como para soportar nuevos casos de uso que no son posibles hoy en día, se
requiere una nueva generación de sistemas inalámbricos. Para esto, se espera que los sistemas de
comunicación inalámbrica 5G aporten las mejoras necesarias: mayores tasas de datos, menores latencias,
mejor eficiencia energética, alta fiabilidad, etc.
El conocimiento de las características del canal inalámbrico es fundamental para la planificación de
redes de comunicación inalámbricas y el diseño de transceptores. Como primer paso, centramos este
trabajo en la caracterización completa del canal para diferentes escenarios, tales como trenes de alta
velocidad, metro y comunicaciones vehículo a infraestructura en carreteras. El canal se caracterizó por
medio de la evaluación de la relación señal a ruido, la pérdida de trayecto (path loss) y los llamados
parámetros condensados de canal (por ejemplo, el factor K, el perfil potencia-retardo (power delay
profile) y la densidad espectral de potencia Doppler).
Además, para la nueva interfaz aérea de las redes 5G, una de las preguntas principales ha sido
la forma de onda a usar. Finalmente, el 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decidió usar
la tecnología de multiplexación por división de frecuencias ortogonales (OFDM por sus siglas en
inglés). Esta es una elección lógica, debido a las muchas ventajas exhibidas por OFDM y dado que
también es la técnica de modulación empleada en las redes 4G. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, los
esquemas multiportadora basados en bancos de filtros (FBMC por sus siglas en inglés) han recibido
una gran atención como una alternativa a OFDM debido a sus ventajas: no usan un prefijo cíclico (lo que proporciona una mayor eficiencia espectral), los usuarios no necesitan sincronizarse en el
enlace ascendente, y un mejor rendimiento teórico en escenarios de alta velocidad debido a una menor
interferencia entre subportadoras. En este trabajo comparamos experimentalmente el rendimiento de
FBMC y OFDM en entornos de alta velocidad. También analizamos el rendimiento de FBMC y OFDM
en el caso de uso práctico de un vehículo aéreo ligero tripulado remotamente. La mayor parte del trabajo
llevado a cabo en esta tesis requirió el diseño y desarrollo del denominado GTEC 5G Simulator, que se
utilizó junto con el GTEC Testbed para realizar la mayoría de las campañas de medidas y evaluaciones
de rendimiento por medio de transmisiones por aire.[Abstract]
Multimedia and data-based services experienced a non-stopping growth over the last few years and
are expected to grow even more in the following years. People are using more and more their mobile
devices to access data-based services for work-related purposes, entertainment or online socialization.
Moreover, massive machine-type communications are also on the rise (e.g., transport and logistics
communications, sensors, Internet of Things, etc.), and will be very important for the new generation
of wireless communication systems. To cope with the expected increase in the usage of multimedia and
data-based services, as well as to support new use cases which are not possible today, a new generation
of wireless systems is required. For this, 5G wireless communication systems are expected to bring the
necessary improvements: higher data rates, lower latencies, better energy efficiency, high reliability, etc.
Knowledge of the wireless channel characteristics is fundamental for the planning of wireless
communication networks and transceivers design. As a first step, this work centered in the channel
characterization for different scenarios such as high-speed trains, subways, and vehicle-to-infrastructure
in roads. The channel was characterized by means of assessing the signal-to-noise ratio, the path loss,
and the so-called channel condensed parameters (e.g., the K-factor, the power delay profile, and the
Doppler power spectral density).
Moreover, for the new air interface of 5G networks, one of the main questions was the waveform to
be used. Finally, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decided to use orthogonal frequencydivision
multiplexing (OFDM). This seems a natural choice due to the many advantages exhibited by
OFDM and it is also the modulation technique employed by 4G networks. However, over the last few
years, schemes based on filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) using quadrature amplitude modulation have
received a great attention as an alternative to OFDM due to their advantages: they do not use a cyclic
prefix (thus providing a higher bandwidth efficiency), users do not need to be synchronized in the uplink,
and they achieve a theoretical better performance in high-speed scenarios due to a lower inter-carrier
interference. In this work, we have experimentally compared the performance of FBMC versus OFDM in high-speed scenarios. We have also analyzed the performance of FBMC versus OFDM in the practical
use case of a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft. The majority of the work carried out in this thesis
required the design and development of the so-called GTEC 5G Simulator, which was used in conjunction
with the GTEC Testbed to perform most of the measurement campaigns and performance evaluations by
means of over-the-air transmissions
Diseño y evaluación de nuevas formas e onda para comunicaciones de alta movilidad
Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Tecnoloxías da Información e Comunicación en Redes Móbiles. 553V01[Resumo]
Os servizos multimedia e de datos experimentaron un crecemento continuo nos últimos anos e espérase
que crezan aínda máis nos anos seguintes. A xente está a usar cada vez máis os seus dispositivos
móbiles para acceder a servizos baseados en datos para fins relacionados co traballo, entretemento ou
socialización en liña. Ademais, as comunicacións masivas de tipo máquina tamén están en ascenso
(por exemplo, as comunicacións en transporte e loxística, sensores, Internet das cousas, etc.), e serán
moi importantes para a nova xeración de sistemas de comunicacións sen fíos. Para afrontar o aumento
esperado no uso de servizos multimedia e baseado en datos, así como para soportar novos casos de uso
que hoxe non son posibles, unha nova xeración de redes sen fíos é necesaria. Para iso, espérase que
os sistemas de comunicación sen fíos 5G traian as melloras necesarias: maiores taxas de datos, baixas
latencias, mellor eficiencia enerxética, alta fiabilidade, etc.
O coñecemento das características da canle sen fíos é fundamental para a planificación das redes
de comunicación sen fíos e o deseño de transceptores. Como primeiro paso, centramos este traballo na
caracterización completa da canle para diferentes escenarios, como son os trens de alta velocidade, metro
e comunicacións vehículo a infraestrutura en estradas. A canle caracterizouse mediante a avaliación da
relación sinal a ruído, a perda de traxecto (path loss) e os chamados parámetros condensados da canle (por
exemplo, o factor K, o perfil potencia-retardo (power delay profile) e a densidade espectral de potencia Doppler. Ademais, para a nova interface aérea das redes 5G, unha das principais cuestións foi a forma de
onda a usar. Finalmente, o 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decidiu usar a tecnoloxía de
multiplexación por división de frecuencias ortogonais (OFDM polas súas siglas en inglés). Isto semella
unha elección natural debido ás moitas vantaxes de OFDM e que tamén é a técnica de modulación
empregada nas redes 4G. Con todo, nos últimos anos, esquemas multiportadora baseados en bancos de
filtros (FBMC polas súas siglas en inglés) recibiron unha grande atención como alternativa a OFDM
debido ás súas vantaxes: non utilizan un prefixo cíclico (proporcionan unha maior eficiencia espectral),
os usuarios non precisan ser sincronizados no enlace ascendente, e un mellor rendemento teórico
en contornas de alta velocidade debido a unha menor interferencia entre portadoras. Neste traballo
comparamos experimentalmente o rendemento de FBMC e OFDM en contornas de alta velocidade.
Tamén analizamos o rendemento de FBMC e OFDM no caso de uso práctico dun vehículo aéreo
lixeiro pilotado remotamente. A maior parte do traballo realizado nesta tese requiriu o deseño e
desenvolvemento do chamado GTEC 5G Simulator, que foi usado en conxunto co GTEC Testbed para
realizar a maior parte das campañas de medicións e avaliacións de rendemento mediante transmisións
polo aire.[Resumen]
Los servicios multimedia y basados en datos experimentaron un crecimiento sin interrupciones en los
últimos años, y se espera que crezcan aún más en los años siguientes. Las personas utilizan cada
vez más sus dispositivos móviles para acceder a los servicios basados en datos con fines relacionados
con el trabajo, el entretenimiento o la socialización en línea. Además, las comunicaciones masivas
de tipo máquina también están en aumento (por ejemplo, comunicaciones en transporte y logística,
sensores, Internet de las cosas, etc.) y serán muy importantes para la nueva generación de sistemas de
comunicaciones inalámbricos. Para hacer frente al aumento esperado en el uso de servicios multimedia
y basados en datos, así como para soportar nuevos casos de uso que no son posibles hoy en día, se
requiere una nueva generación de sistemas inalámbricos. Para esto, se espera que los sistemas de
comunicación inalámbrica 5G aporten las mejoras necesarias: mayores tasas de datos, menores latencias,
mejor eficiencia energética, alta fiabilidad, etc.
El conocimiento de las características del canal inalámbrico es fundamental para la planificación de
redes de comunicación inalámbricas y el diseño de transceptores. Como primer paso, centramos este
trabajo en la caracterización completa del canal para diferentes escenarios, tales como trenes de alta
velocidad, metro y comunicaciones vehículo a infraestructura en carreteras. El canal se caracterizó por
medio de la evaluación de la relación señal a ruido, la pérdida de trayecto (path loss) y los llamados
parámetros condensados de canal (por ejemplo, el factor K, el perfil potencia-retardo (power delay
profile) y la densidad espectral de potencia Doppler).
Además, para la nueva interfaz aérea de las redes 5G, una de las preguntas principales ha sido
la forma de onda a usar. Finalmente, el 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decidió usar
la tecnología de multiplexación por división de frecuencias ortogonales (OFDM por sus siglas en
inglés). Esta es una elección lógica, debido a las muchas ventajas exhibidas por OFDM y dado que
también es la técnica de modulación empleada en las redes 4G. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, los
esquemas multiportadora basados en bancos de filtros (FBMC por sus siglas en inglés) han recibido
una gran atención como una alternativa a OFDM debido a sus ventajas: no usan un prefijo cíclico (lo que proporciona una mayor eficiencia espectral), los usuarios no necesitan sincronizarse en el
enlace ascendente, y un mejor rendimiento teórico en escenarios de alta velocidad debido a una menor
interferencia entre subportadoras. En este trabajo comparamos experimentalmente el rendimiento de
FBMC y OFDM en entornos de alta velocidad. También analizamos el rendimiento de FBMC y OFDM
en el caso de uso práctico de un vehículo aéreo ligero tripulado remotamente. La mayor parte del trabajo
llevado a cabo en esta tesis requirió el diseño y desarrollo del denominado GTEC 5G Simulator, que se
utilizó junto con el GTEC Testbed para realizar la mayoría de las campañas de medidas y evaluaciones
de rendimiento por medio de transmisiones por aire.[Abstract]
Multimedia and data-based services experienced a non-stopping growth over the last few years and
are expected to grow even more in the following years. People are using more and more their mobile
devices to access data-based services for work-related purposes, entertainment or online socialization.
Moreover, massive machine-type communications are also on the rise (e.g., transport and logistics
communications, sensors, Internet of Things, etc.), and will be very important for the new generation
of wireless communication systems. To cope with the expected increase in the usage of multimedia and
data-based services, as well as to support new use cases which are not possible today, a new generation
of wireless systems is required. For this, 5G wireless communication systems are expected to bring the
necessary improvements: higher data rates, lower latencies, better energy efficiency, high reliability, etc.
Knowledge of the wireless channel characteristics is fundamental for the planning of wireless
communication networks and transceivers design. As a first step, this work centered in the channel
characterization for different scenarios such as high-speed trains, subways, and vehicle-to-infrastructure
in roads. The channel was characterized by means of assessing the signal-to-noise ratio, the path loss,
and the so-called channel condensed parameters (e.g., the K-factor, the power delay profile, and the
Doppler power spectral density).
Moreover, for the new air interface of 5G networks, one of the main questions was the waveform to
be used. Finally, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) decided to use orthogonal frequencydivision
multiplexing (OFDM). This seems a natural choice due to the many advantages exhibited by
OFDM and it is also the modulation technique employed by 4G networks. However, over the last few
years, schemes based on filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) using quadrature amplitude modulation have
received a great attention as an alternative to OFDM due to their advantages: they do not use a cyclic
prefix (thus providing a higher bandwidth efficiency), users do not need to be synchronized in the uplink,
and they achieve a theoretical better performance in high-speed scenarios due to a lower inter-carrier
interference. In this work, we have experimentally compared the performance of FBMC versus OFDM in high-speed scenarios. We have also analyzed the performance of FBMC versus OFDM in the practical
use case of a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft. The majority of the work carried out in this thesis
required the design and development of the so-called GTEC 5G Simulator, which was used in conjunction
with the GTEC Testbed to perform most of the measurement campaigns and performance evaluations by
means of over-the-air transmissions