Methodology for Multipath-Component Tracking in Millimeter-Wave Channel Modeling

Abstract

We describe an extensive channel-measurement campaign, including 325 unique transmitter–receiver configurations, conducted in a lecture room with our 3-D double-directional 60 GHz channel sounder. The receiver was mounted on a mobile robot, with 40 cm spacing between channel acquisitions, enabling the tracking of clustered multipath components in the multidimensional delay-angle space. To mitigate against angle-estimation error and multipath blockage, we introduce a robust tracking algorithm based on the Assignment Problem. For the purpose of validation, the clusters were transformed from the delay-angle space onto a 2-D map of the environment and compared against the locations of cluster-generating reflectors, such as walls and tables. The location errors were typically within 30–50 cm. The clusters identified were then reduced to a stochastic map-based channel model, including reflection loss and dispersion characteristics such as the Ricean K-factor and angular spread. Given the 0.5 ns delay resolution of the channel sounder and angle-estimation error around 2°, the parameters were reported with high fidelity.