Space-Time Processing for Tactical Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

摘要

The use of electronically steerable antenna arrays, space-time multiple input multiple output (MIMO) signal processing techniques, and improved techniques for error correction have demonstrated the capability to greatly improve the performance of point-to-point communications for both commercial and tactical networks. In this project we have addressed the challenging question of how these technological developments can best be exploited in a tactical networking context, where signal interference and channel uncertainty issues have a tremendous impact on end-to-end system performance. Tactical applications pose unique requirements for the network, including decentralized control to eliminate single points-of-failure, vulnerability to jamming and electronic warfare, and mission critical latency bounds for end-to-end data delivery. Moreover, a tactical network is generally composed of mobile nodes and the routing protocols must deal with a range of node mobilities and time varying channel conditions. This project has focused on the design of ad hoc networking architectures that utilize MIMO transmitters and receivers at each node of this mobile, decentralized tactical network. The goal of this program has been to define the best way to utilize multiple transmit and receive antennas at each node to improve the robustness, capacity, and quality of service of the network. This report summarizes the significant advances that were achieved in this project concerning the underlying issues associated with incorporating the information available from the MIMO physical layer into the network routing and scheduling protocols for mobile ad hoc tactical networks.