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Interference and RAdiation in Network PlAnning of 5G AcTive Antenna Systems
Funded by: Service des médias, de la connectivité (SMC)
https://innovative-initiatives.public.lu/stories/iranata
Project Objectives:
Characterize the out-of-band emissions and inter-cell interference level of the 5G Active Antenna System (AAS)
Define a methodology based on drone missions and characterize the 3D network coverage map in a 5G AAS network. Evaluate the impact on network planning e.g. site location, Active Antenna (AA) configuration.
Define a methodology and measure the electromagnetic emission levels of AAS at the user terminal side. Compare with the emission levels of conventional 4G antenna systems.
Disseminate results in the scientific community and provide input to stakeholders. Propose new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) adjusted to the AAS operation.
My role:
Built light-weight SDR measurement system (USRP, GNU Radio, Raspberry-Pi) to mount on UAV and measure 5G gNB antenna radiation during user-specific beamforming
Developed methodology to measure KPIs (RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, Throughput) of commercial 5G gNB via UAV mounted logging tools (QualiPoC Android), identify coverage gaps, and high interference regions
Performed outdoor campaigns for measurement of Wideband, Frequency Selective, and Code Selective 5G EMF radiation during UL and DL mobile traffic
Conducted 2 public demonstrations (Connecting Tomorrow: 5G Broadband and Beyond, Luxembourg)
Figure-1: Some pictures of outdoor campaign during EMF measurement from commercial gNB
Outdoor campaign to measure wideband and code-selective EMF during downlink traffic from a commercial gNB
Rhode & Schwarz TSME is used for Code Selective EMF measurement while for wideband EMF measurement, Wavecontrol SMP2 is used.
Figure-2: The picture shows how Aluminium foil was used to shield the Raspberry Pi + USRP in order to protect the GPS from USB-3.0 interference.
Video-1: Flying a tethered UAV for measurement of Antenna pattern
Interference from the USB-3 port is a known source of interference, especially for the GPS receivers (more info here). So, I made some make-shift arrangements to shield the USRP + Raspberry Pi using kitchen aluminum foil :D and the solution worked very well!
What you see to the left is a USRP + Raspberry Pi mounted on a drone.
Click the link below to see them flying:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRXzvUGWnBA
Or watch below (Video-1)
Video-2: Before going outdoors, we validated our plans indoors via simulation of UAV path and its traversal over fixed grid points. UAV will measure RSSI, RSRP and RSRQ over the grid points.
Figure-3: After simulation, the next step was indoor validation. A light weight SDR based measurement device was built using Raspberry Pi + UHD + USRP B205-mini. This was mounted on a UAV. Laser based indoor navigation was used to guide the UAV over a predetermined path. A horn antenna + 5G signal generator was used to emulate user specific DL beam.
Video-3: A video recording of the step as explained in Figure-3.
Video-4: In this video, we see how UAV collects RSSI over pre-dermined points during its flight and plots an approximate antenna pattern.
Rain will not stop me! ( Taking readings of EMF measurement outdoors )
Field Experimental Setup
Securing the aera
WiFi Network for communication
Ground control Station
Tether/Dead Weight
Remote Control/Flight Planning
Observers
Flight authorization
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