Multipath Robust Azimuthal Direction of Arrival Estimation in Dual-Band 2.45–5.2 GHz Networks

This paper presents a technique capable to ameliorating the impairment caused by radio channel multipath, in the estimation of the wireless communications direction of arrival (DoA). This feature is enabled by a space division multiple access approach supported by a DoA technique based on the combination of the estimates achieved at both 2.45 and 5.2 GHz. The DoA estimation relies on a comparison between the real-time received signal strength indicator and the predicted signal level distribution, which can be estimated and stored without the need of lengthy offline measurement. The experimental setup adopted for the technique validation involves an active interferer, by which arbitrary multipath levels can be implemented. An equivalent reflection coefficient signal-to-interference ratio is defined as the ratio of the unperturbed signal and the induced coherent isofrequency interferer signal, compatible with the two-ray model of the multipath impairment. The proposed technique exploits a dual-band frequency planning, and because of the combined use of the data at the two frequencies, a mean error of 2.6° is observed within a domain ranging from 0.5 to 4 m, for the entire 360° angle in the reference anechoic scenario. The 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 5.4°. In the presence of a strong coherent interferer, compatible with a total reflection from the walls, the mean error is 4.9°, while the 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 10.5°. In the presence of the strongest coherent interferer signal available, which is more severe than the worst case of total reflection, the mean error is 7.1°, while the 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 15.1°.