Over-the-air emulation of a two-path model for automotive LTE system performance testing

Abstract

Over-the-air testing is, in combination with the concept of radio channel emulation, a feasible solution for the evaluation of automotive radio systems during every stage of development. Suitable and representative test scenarios need to be investigated, since it is impossible to completely test the multitude of potential radio environments, and real drive tests are very expensive, time consuming, and hardly reproducible. This paper proposes a basic two-path propagation model as a basis for performance testing because of its relevance in wireless communications and the potential to adjust worst-case transmission conditions. The model has been successfully implemented in our multi-purpose test facility. The implementation has been verified by interference measurements in the signal domain at RF level. Measured values compare favourably with expectation. Application oriented verification has been achieved by creating a functional LTE link in our shielded anechoic chamber and has been used to conduct end-to-end data throughput tests. The measured data throughput follows the expected interference pattern.