Destination-Feedback Free Distributed Transmit Beamforming using Guided Directionality

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel destination-feedback-free distributed beamforming method that uses radio mobility and coarse location data to enhance signal strength without relying on feedback, demonstrated with a software-defined radio prototype.

Contribution

It presents a new approach that eliminates the need for destination feedback and precise node synchronization, suitable for high-mobility platforms like UAVs.

Findings

Achieved up to 9dB SNR improvement in experiments.

Verified position requirements through simulations.

Demonstrated feasibility with software-defined radios.

Abstract

Distributed transmit beamforming enables cooperative radios to act as one virtual antenna array, extending their communications' range beyond the capabilities of a single radio. Most existing distributed beamforming approaches rely on the destination radio sending feedback to adjust the transmitters' signals for coherent combining. However, relying on the destination radio's feedback limits the communications range to that of a single radio. Existing destination-feedback-free approaches rely on phase synchronization and knowing the node locations with sub-wavelength accuracy, which becomes impractical for radios mounted on high-mobility platforms like UAVs. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a destination-feedback-free distributed beamforming approach that leverages the radio's mobility and coarse location information in a dominant line-of-sight channel. In the proposed approach, one radio acts as a guide and moves to point the beam of the remaining radios towards the destination. We specify the radios' position requirements and verify their relation to the combined signal at the destination using simulations. A proof of concept demo was implemented using software defined radios, showing up to 9dB SNR improvement in the beamforming direction just by relying on the coarse placement of four radios.