Distributed Coherent Communications

Vadum will develop and simulate a new communications protocol for Distributed Coherent Beamforming (DCB) that will implement bi-directional distributed TX and RX beamforming algorithms between two or more groups of wireless nodes with no prior spatial awareness (i.e. GPS not required). The Vadum approach uses an innovative Master-Slave architecture to implicitly achieve frequency and timing synchronization among nodes in a time-varying channel and at minimum overhead cost. Phase synchronization is achieved using a novel hybrid of experimentally demonstrated techniques and employs open-loop, closed-loop, and power control feedback. The hybrid approach provides better feedback resolution in response to Channel State Information (CSI) and enables better beam shaping by selecting an optimal subset of nodes for beamforming. This technology will enable groups of low-power transmitters to communicate over longer range, with increased throughput, or less power.