EM Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Research and Development, The Antenna Company
Emerging information technologies will necessitate a significant increase in the data rates and capacity of wireless communication systems. Our society stands on the brink of a new era with the development of innovative concepts such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, autonomous driving, and smart mobility. This encourages the use of the millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency domain to support these new ideas, where much more signal bandwidth is accessible. The rapid increase in data rates is illustrated in the figure below, which shows the roadmap toward beyond 5G, i.e., 5G+. For 5G, the goal is to achieve data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s by utilizing the lower mm-wave spectrum (<40 GHz). For beyond 5G, even higher frequencies, well above 100 GHz, are anticipated.
(Beyond)-5G wireless communications will provide mobile devices a wired experience, providing users with high data rate and capacity, low latency, and high signal fidelity. Ongoing development for such experience includes signal processing, accessing techniques, and modulation techniques. Furthermore, breakthroughs in antenna array systems are equally important, especially for the anticipated use of mm-wave frequencies. Further integration at mm-wave frequencies presents a unique opportunity to use beam-steering phased-array antennas with massive MIMO technology. With the aid of enhanced electronic beamforming, it is possible to overcome limitations associated with the severe path loss experienced at mm-wave frequencies while supporting user mobility in the access links both in indoor and, especially, outdoor scenarios.
Outline of the program: The Arrays5G program arises from a collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology and The Antenna Company to develop innovative design methodologies and technical solutions to enable next-generation high-performance wireless networks and remote sensing applications.
PhD position on “Advanced Antenna Array Synthesis Methodologies”: The research program focuses on advanced deterministic synthesis techniques for antenna arrays. These techniques address the complex, multidimensional, and nonlinear problem of antenna array pattern synthesis, offering advantages over traditional metaheuristic methods like genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization. The deterministic approach, characterized by lower computational complexity and higher efficiency, involves evaluating the location and excitation coefficients of antenna elements while adhering to design constraints. The incorporation of AI enhances these techniques, allowing for more efficient handling of complex design requirements and constraints. This synergy between deterministic methods and AI is expected to lead to more effective and efficient antenna array designs, outperforming evolutionary methods in terms of speed, computational load, and possibly accuracy in conforming to design specifications. This research program would explore these advantages in depth, developing and validating new algorithms for antenna array synthesis that leverage the strengths of both deterministic methods and AI with an emphasis on the following aspects:
-
Advanced Deterministic Synthesis Techniques: Investigating novel deterministic methods for antenna array synthesis, such as advanced iterative Fourier transform approaches, and exploring their computational efficiency and effectiveness in meeting assigned performance criteria.
-
Integration with AI and Machine Learning: Examining how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms can be integrated with deterministic synthesis techniques to optimize antenna array design. This could involve developing AI-driven models to automate the synthesis process, enhance design accuracy, and reduce computational time.
-
Comparison with Evolutionary Methodologies: Conducting comparative studies to assess the advantages of deterministic synthesis techniques over evolutionary methods, such as genetic algorithms, in terms of accuracy, speed, and reliability. This comparison can highlight the scenarios where deterministic methods are more suitable.
-
Application in Emerging Technologies: Applying deterministic synthesis methods to design antenna arrays for emerging technologies like 5G and beyond, considering aspects like millimeter-wave communications, beamforming, and spatial filtering.
-
CAD Tool Development: Developing sophisticated computer-aided design tools that incorporate deterministic synthesis algorithms to assist designers in creating efficient antenna arrays for various applications, including wireless communications and remote sensing.
This research program aims to push the boundaries of antenna array design by leveraging the precision and efficiency of deterministic methods, enhanced by AI, to meet the evolving demands of modern wireless communication systems.