Multistatic Radar Coordination Using Wireless Communication Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for equipping mobile devices with radar capabilities, such as dedicated radar chips or phased arrays, increase device cost and size due to the need for large antenna arrays, limiting the range and resolution of radar functionality.
Innovation Solution
A multistatic radar system is implemented using existing wireless communication devices, forming groups of devices to transmit and receive radar signals cooperatively, leveraging beamforming mmWave transceivers and communication links to enhance radar performance without additional hardware, allowing for longer range and higher resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated radar chips are integrated inside mobile phones, then radar functionality is achieved, but device cost and size increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables mobile communication devices to perform both communication and radar functions using existing hardware components. The same antenna array and signal processing capabilities are utilized for both purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated radar chips and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining radar functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple wireless communication devices into a coordinated multistatic radar system. By merging the sensing capabilities of multiple devices and coordinating their operations, the system achieves radar functionality without requiring each individual device to have dedicated radar hardware, thus reducing cost and size
2Measurement precision
If antenna array size is increased to create narrow beam for high angular resolution, then imaging resolution is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from relying solely on physical antenna array size to achieving angular resolution through spatial-temporal coordination of multiple distributed devices. By adding the dimension of multiple device locations and coordinating their measurements over time, the system achieves high angular resolution without requiring large individual antenna arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the radar sensing function across multiple wireless communication devices instead of concentrating all sensing capabilities in a single device with a large antenna array. Each device contributes partial measurements, and the combined data from multiple segmented sources achieves high resolution imaging without requiring any single device to be large
3Measurement precision
If multiple wireless communication devices are coordinated for multistatic radar measurements, then radar range and resolution are improved, but system coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinating entity that manages the multistatic radar operations by assigning roles to different wireless communication devices, scheduling their transmission and reception activities, and coordinating their measurements. This intermediary layer simplifies the coordination complexity by providing centralized control while enabling the benefits of multistatic radar
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides improved radar range and resolution by utilizing multiple devices for transmission and reception, overcoming limitations of monostatic radar, and enabling accurate object detection and classification.
Implementation Method 1
As used herein, the term 'radar' refers to a type of sensing in which one or more radiofrequency signals are transmitted (by one or more transmitters) into a sensing environment, and reflections of those signals received (by one or more receivers)
Data Source
AI summary
A node in a wireless communication system coordinates multistatic radar measurements, wherein the node controls a plurality of wireless communication devices. Coordination involves obtaining an indication that a first sensing area located within a geographic area that is served by the node is to be sensed by a first radar signal. A first multistatic radar group of wireless communication devices selected from a participating group of the plurality of wireless communication devices and the node is formed, wherein the first multistatic radar group comprises at least one device for transmitting the first radar signal and at least two devices for receiving one or more reflections of the transmitted first radar signal. The first multistatic radar group is controlled to introduce the first radar signal into the first sensing area and to receive the one or more reflections of the introduced first radar signal. The sensed reflections obtained by wireless communication devices in the first multistatic radar group are caused to be combined to obtain geographical information about the first sensing area. Other aspects involve a wireless communication device interacting with a network node to receive allocated time and radio frequency resources to be used for a radar function.