Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

A Wideband Distributed Massive MIMO Channel Sounder for Communication and Sensing

Sandra, Michiel LU ; Nelson, Christian LU orcid ; Li, Xuhong LU ; Cai, Xuesong LU ; Tufvesson, Fredrik LU orcid and Johansson, Anders J. LU orcid (2025) In IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 73(4). p.2074-2085
Abstract

Channel sounding is a vital step in the design and deployment of wireless communication systems. In this article, we present the design and implementation of a coherent distributed massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel sounder operating at 5 and 6GHz with a bandwidth of 400MHz based on the NI USRP X410. Through the integration of multiple transceiver chains and radio frequency (RF) switches, the design facilitates the use of a larger number of antennas without significant compromise in dynamic capability. Our current implementation is capable of measuring thousands of antenna combinations in tens of milliseconds. Every radio frequency switch is seamlessly integrated with a 16-element antenna array, allowing... (More)

Channel sounding is a vital step in the design and deployment of wireless communication systems. In this article, we present the design and implementation of a coherent distributed massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel sounder operating at 5 and 6GHz with a bandwidth of 400MHz based on the NI USRP X410. Through the integration of multiple transceiver chains and radio frequency (RF) switches, the design facilitates the use of a larger number of antennas without significant compromise in dynamic capability. Our current implementation is capable of measuring thousands of antenna combinations in tens of milliseconds. Every radio frequency switch is seamlessly integrated with a 16-element antenna array, allowing phase-coherent multinode dual-polarized double-directional dynamic channel measurements for multistatic integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) applications. In addition, the channel sounder features real-time processing to reduce the data stream to the host computer and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. The correct operation of the sounder is demonstrated through two measurements in an indoor laboratory environment. The first measurement entails a single-antenna robot as a transmitter and 128 distributed receiving antennas. The second measurement demonstrates a passive sensing scenario with a walking person. We evaluate the results of both measurements using the super-resolution algorithm space-alternating generalized expectation maximization (SAGE). The results demonstrate the great potential of the presented sounding system for providing high-quality radio channel measurements, contributing to high-resolution channel estimation, characterization, and active and passive sensing in realistic and dynamic scenarios.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
6G, channel sounding, distributed multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO), integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), massive MIMO, multistatic radar
in
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
volume
73
issue
4
pages
12 pages
publisher
IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105002679565
ISSN
0018-926X
DOI
10.1109/TAP.2025.3537292
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
169c29d7-847c-4522-bc93-cf44a9e8f54b
date added to LUP
2025-09-01 11:29:28
date last changed
2025-09-01 11:29:28
@article{169c29d7-847c-4522-bc93-cf44a9e8f54b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Channel sounding is a vital step in the design and deployment of wireless communication systems. In this article, we present the design and implementation of a coherent distributed massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel sounder operating at 5 and 6GHz with a bandwidth of 400MHz based on the NI USRP X410. Through the integration of multiple transceiver chains and radio frequency (RF) switches, the design facilitates the use of a larger number of antennas without significant compromise in dynamic capability. Our current implementation is capable of measuring thousands of antenna combinations in tens of milliseconds. Every radio frequency switch is seamlessly integrated with a 16-element antenna array, allowing phase-coherent multinode dual-polarized double-directional dynamic channel measurements for multistatic integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) applications. In addition, the channel sounder features real-time processing to reduce the data stream to the host computer and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. The correct operation of the sounder is demonstrated through two measurements in an indoor laboratory environment. The first measurement entails a single-antenna robot as a transmitter and 128 distributed receiving antennas. The second measurement demonstrates a passive sensing scenario with a walking person. We evaluate the results of both measurements using the super-resolution algorithm space-alternating generalized expectation maximization (SAGE). The results demonstrate the great potential of the presented sounding system for providing high-quality radio channel measurements, contributing to high-resolution channel estimation, characterization, and active and passive sensing in realistic and dynamic scenarios.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sandra, Michiel and Nelson, Christian and Li, Xuhong and Cai, Xuesong and Tufvesson, Fredrik and Johansson, Anders J.}},
  issn         = {{0018-926X}},
  keywords     = {{6G; channel sounding; distributed multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO); integrated sensing and communication (ISAC); massive MIMO; multistatic radar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{2074--2085}},
  publisher    = {{IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.}},
  series       = {{IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation}},
  title        = {{A Wideband Distributed Massive MIMO Channel Sounder for Communication and Sensing}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2025.3537292}},
  doi          = {{10.1109/TAP.2025.3537292}},
  volume       = {{73}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}