Ranging Requirements for Open-Loop Coherent Distributed Arrays With Wireless Frequency Synchronization

Abstract

We present an analysis on the required ranging accuracy for open-loop coherent distributed beamforming when wireless frequency synchronization is simultaneously implemented. In dynamic coherent networks, ranging is used to adjust the shifts in the phase of the transmitted signals by estimating the relative phase changes. The constraints on the desired ranging accuracy are increased in the case where wireless frequency transfer is implemented. We discuss a model for distributed beamforming and present analysis of the required ranging accuracy as a function of the relative beamforming gain, demonstrating that some angles exhibit significantly more ranging error tolerance than other angles.