Wireless Picosecond Time Synchronization for Distributed Antenna Arrays with Dynamic Connectivity

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Shandi, Naim, Merlo, Jason M., Nanzer, Jeffrey A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Shandi, Naim
Merlo, Jason M.
Nanzer, Jeffrey A.
author_facet Shandi, Naim
Merlo, Jason M.
Nanzer, Jeffrey A.
contents Phase, time, and frequency coordination are crucial for the coherent operation of distributed antenna arrays. This paper demonstrates a high accuracy decentralized time synchronization method for arrays with dynamic connectivity. To overcome challenges such as alteration in network topology, system scaling, and single- or multiple-node failures, we present a decentralized time synchronization method implementing the average consensus algorithm and two-way time transfer. Our approach supports decentralized time synchronization with picosecond accuracy ($< 13$ ps), unbiased convergence, resilience to node failures, and robustness to other network connection adversities. A time synchronization precision of under 3 ps was achieved for a fully connected frequency syntonized network. The algorithm ensured convergence in time even for a network with only one link connecting two randomly chosen nodes at each iteration; however, the speed of convergence decreased along with the number of connected links. The method is exhibited for a six-node distributed array, by both simulation and experimental implementation using software defined radios.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_17356
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Wireless Picosecond Time Synchronization for Distributed Antenna Arrays with Dynamic Connectivity
Shandi, Naim
Merlo, Jason M.
Nanzer, Jeffrey A.
Signal Processing
Phase, time, and frequency coordination are crucial for the coherent operation of distributed antenna arrays. This paper demonstrates a high accuracy decentralized time synchronization method for arrays with dynamic connectivity. To overcome challenges such as alteration in network topology, system scaling, and single- or multiple-node failures, we present a decentralized time synchronization method implementing the average consensus algorithm and two-way time transfer. Our approach supports decentralized time synchronization with picosecond accuracy ($< 13$ ps), unbiased convergence, resilience to node failures, and robustness to other network connection adversities. A time synchronization precision of under 3 ps was achieved for a fully connected frequency syntonized network. The algorithm ensured convergence in time even for a network with only one link connecting two randomly chosen nodes at each iteration; however, the speed of convergence decreased along with the number of connected links. The method is exhibited for a six-node distributed array, by both simulation and experimental implementation using software defined radios.
title Wireless Picosecond Time Synchronization for Distributed Antenna Arrays with Dynamic Connectivity
topic Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.17356