Direct Digitisation for Frequency Agile Millimetre Wave Massive MIMO

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Abstract

In recent years there has been a huge explosion in the use of mobile devices such as smartphones, laptop computers and tablets which require a wireless connection to the internet. Numbers are forecast to reach 40 billion worldwide by 2020 as areas as diverse as the home, transport, healthcare, military and infrastructure experience increasing levels of embedded 'smart' functionality and user operability. Major applications such as future 5G communications systems, the Internet of Things and Autonomous Vehicles are driving this technology. At present wireless systems operate at frequencies up to 6GHz. However, there is a growing realisation that the spectrum below 6GHz cannot support the huge data rates being demanded by future users and applications.

The next step is to develop technologies utilising much higher frequencies to give data rates compatible with future demand. Currently, world licencing bodies such as ETSI and ITU have identified millimetre wave frequencies up to 90 GHz as most likely for this expansion in the spectrum. Strategically, the UK must develop wireless technologies to compete on the world stage and increase its competitiveness particularly in competition with the Far East. Superfast 5G level Telecoms infrastructure is central to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, which the UK government has been championing and highlighting in the ten pillars of combined strategy.

Two technology bottlenecks in millimetre wave receivers, which are important aspects of future communication systems, are: 1) current receiver architectures are unable to directly digitise millimetre wave signals with acceptable power consumption, and 2) antenna arrays are not sufficiently frequency agile. This project aims to address both bottlenecks using new techniques developed on the FARAD project. The proposed research will embrace the co-design of antennas, filters and amplifiers with track-and-hold-amplifiers, analogue-to-digital-convertors and digital down conversion. This will result in new receiver architectures for fully digital massive MIMO systems.

The techniques and architectures developed in this project will enable future high-frequency networks to operate efficiently in the new millimetre wave transmission bands. The research will have far-reaching consequences for solving the wireless capacity bottleneck over the next 20 to 30 years and keeping the UK at the forefront of millimetre wave technology and innovation.

Planned Impact

There are a number of ways in which the project plans to have a significant impact. The novel solutions developed on the project will impact on the project researchers, the industrial supporters and the wider communications industries in the UK. The main research beneficiaries will be all wireless technology users bringing significant societal benefits. The millimetre wave technology developed in the project will be deployed alongside current lower frequency communications systems (up to 6GHz) in smartphones, tablets, laptops, machine to machine devices, base stations, autonomous vehicles, on-body health monitoring devices, items in the home network from the internet of things, infrastructure monitoring and smart grids. The technology developed on this project would be expected to be operational within a 5 to 10-year timeframe. The defence sector will also benefit where fast transmission technologies for networked battlefields are emerging and novel digital processing techniques are being developed for radar systems. The project will enhance the UK's overall capability in advanced millimetre wave research, design and development. It will impact energy efficiency in mobile networks where energy consumption is expected to take a significant proportion of the national grid output.

We will have regular meetings and dialogue with our industrial supporters presenting our progress and results. An Advisory Board of industrialists will be established and meet every 6 months to observe progress, assist in steering the research programme and advise on exploitation. Thus, the industry will benefit from early exposure to our results. Our industrial supporters include original equipment manufacturers and major vendors and are therefore well placed to bring this technology to the mass market. In the defence sector, BAE SYSTEMS, HMGCC and Roke will be able to use the technology in battlefield communication systems and radars.

In addition to workshops and sessions organised through COMMNET2, Cambridge Wireless, EU-COST and major international conferences (see "Academic Impact") we will organise two open community networking workshops at 15 and 30 months targeting researchers in industry, academia and projects funded by this call, involving manufacturers, network operators and government regulators. Statutory spectrum policy/regulators such as OFCOM, ETSI and FCC will benefit from indicators of the capability of the technology to inform the path of future wireless infrastructure for regulation and standards.

Two named postdoctoral researchers will be funded on the project gaining valuable technical and professional experience from working in this important area of future technology. They will be trained in simulation methods and hardware design, manufacture and measurement. They will participate in University training of research funding, entrepreneurship, teaching and supervision skills to develop their careers. Four PhD students will be linked with the project, one funded by the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department.

Our researchers will reach out to the wider community. The postdoctoral researchers will be encouraged to become STEM ambassadors to go into our schools and encourage children to get involved in science and engineering careers. Project researchers will also participate in the Sheffield University Science fair, one of the country's biggest events of its kind.

The investigators will be able to build on their reputations in this field through the recruitment of doctoral and masters level students. Experience and knowledge gained from the project will lead to future PhD projects and taught Masters programmes thereby enhancing teaching and learning opportunities at the University in a field of study where there is a huge shortage of engineers.
 
Description The key finding is that RF subsampling in mm-wave MIMO receivers is relatively free of subsampling noise folding for the single band case.
Exploitation Route By industry in mm-wave receiver design for all digital massive MIMO systems.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

URL https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/6g-radio-systems-facility/index
 
Description The findings are being used in DSIT YORAN (Yorkshire Open Radio Access Networks) project and the DSTL NGIN (Next Generation Information Networks) project. Both projects are developing new transceivers based on direct mm-wave sampling as developed in the Direct Digitisation for Frequency Agile Millimetre Wave Massive MIMO project.
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics
Impact Types Economic

 
Description 6G Sub-Terahertz Software Defined Radio Testbed
Amount £2,379,292 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/X030016/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2023 
End 07/2024
 
Title Data for: "A system-level performance evaluation of a reconfigurable filtenna in the presence of in- and out-of-band blockers", IET Communications 
Description This dataset is for the paper "A system-level performance evaluation of a reconfigurable filtenna in the presence of in- and out-of-band blockers", currently under review for IET Communications journal. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Data_for_A_system-level_performance_evaluation_of_a_rec...
 
Title Dataset and code for "Concurrent Multiband Direct RF Sampling Receivers" 
Description This is the data for the journal article "Concurrent Multiband Direct RF Sampling Receivers", which has been accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications. It includes raw data gathered during experiments, and also MATLAB code used to produce simulation results. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Dataset_and_code_for_Concurrent_Multiband_Direct_RF_Sam...
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation BAE Systems
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation NEC Corporation
Department NEC Telecom MODUS Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation Real Wireless
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation Roke Manor Research Ltd.
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation Samsung
Country Korea, Republic of 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation Toshiba Research Europe Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description DDmmMaMi Project Partners 
Organisation VCE Mobile & Personal Comm Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of direct RF sampling techniques for millimetre wave massive MIMO systems.
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice on systems architecture, COTs device functionality and network deployment options.
Impact The project is multi-disciplinary working across millimetre wave antennas and direct RF digitisation of millimetre wave signals. As such this represents two discipline in EM theory (antennas) and digital signal processing (fast digitisations).
Start Year 2019
 
Description 6G: Software Defined Radio and RF Sampling, DCMS Spectrum Policy Forum Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The workshop consisted of a collection of invited presentations on EPSRC funded research relating to 5G and 6G technology. A presentation was given based on the FARAD project entitled "RF Sampling in Multiband Receivers for 5G: Analysis and Performance". The information and workshop discussions fed into the SPF consultation document entitled "Report of the outcome of the SPF-DCMS supported UK Universities 6G research initiative - A compilation edited by the Chair of the SPF Cluster 2".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.techuk.org/what-we-deliver/events/6g-software-defined-radio-and-rf-sampling.html
 
Description 6G: Technology Enablers for Spectrum & Energy Efficient Wireless Access 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The workshop consisted of a collection of invited presentations on EPSRC funded research relating to technology enablers for spectrum & energy-efficient wireless access. A presentation was given based on the FARAD and DDmmMaMi projects entitled "Multiband Direct RF Sampling for 5G and Beyond MIMO Receivers". The information and workshop discussions fed into the SPF consultation document entitled "Report of the outcome of the SPF-DCMS supported UK Universities 6G research initiative - A compilation edited by the Chair of the SPF Cluster 2".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.techuk.org/what-we-deliver/events/6g-technology-enablers-for-spectrum-energy-efficient-w...
 
Description 8th International Conference on Signal Processing and Integrated Networks (SPIN-2021) held on 26-27 August, 2021 through Virtual Mode at Amity University, Noida, India. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was an invited keynote address entitled "Direct RF Sampling in Multiband MIMO Receivers". The purpose of the talk was to convey research findings from the DDmmMaMi project on direct RF sampling for MIMO receivers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.amity.edu/spin2021/
 
Description BT Workshop on Low Energy Networks 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a workshop that collated the UK's activity on energy efficiency research in communications networks covering wired and wireless networking. The workshop contributed to BT's research road map for investigating EE in networks.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description INTERNATIONAL MOBILE AND EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (MECON - 2022) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was an invited keynote talk entitled "The Effect of ADC Resolution on Concurrent, Multiband, Direct RF Sampling Receivers". The purpose of the talk was to convey research findings from the DDmmMaMi project on direct RF sampling receivers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.amity.edu/mecon2022/
 
Description The UK's 5G Showcase 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Plenary panel session: future looking - 6G
This session considered key research areas for next-generation wireless, including network diversification and convergence, open architectures and standards, software-isation and sustainability, and a focus on delivering social value.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://uk5g.org/attend/uk5gs-5g-showcase-2022/
 
Description WWRF47 Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Plenary session on emergy efficiency in 5G networks involving talks from academia and industry plus a panel discussion on methods to improve efficiency.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://wwrf.ch/?page_id=1122
 
Description Westminster eForum: Next Steps for the UK Mobile Industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This conference focused on the future of UK mobile, looking at market dynamics, investment, spectrum allocation, infrastructure and technology development, as well as priorities for policy and regulations. It discussed key issues concerning the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy and the level of mobile connectivity the UK will require in order to support the needs of consumers, businesses and public services into the future, including in the transport, education, and healthcare sectors. The conference was aimed at stakeholders and policymakers for assessing the latest developments in M&A activity, related issues around competition, spectrum allocation and sharing, and how policy and regulations may need to adapt going forward. O'Farrell took part in a panel session looking at 6G systems and their impact on the future of mobile communications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/UK-Mobile-23
 
Description tmforum: Hard Talk - Net Zero, Sustainability and the Impact of Cloud 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participated as an expert in a video podcast debate on the energy efficiency of 5G networks.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://inform.tmforum.org/webinars/hard-talk-net-zero-sustainability-and-the-impact-of-cloud/