Sparse array synthesis for WBAN with minimised side lobe via convex optimisation

Abstract

This study concerns sensor selection problem in wireless body area network (WBAN), which can reduce the burden of the human body and improve the energy efficiency. The authors highlight the sparse sensor array synthesis algorithm for different shapes of sensor arrays via convex optimisation to solve this problem. For simplicity, one regular spherical sensor array and five regular cuboid sensor arrays are considered to simulate the sensor distribution around the human body. As a comparison, the conventional method with one objective method is used to synthesise the sensor array first. Then the proposed algorithm which includes two objective variables: the l 1-norm of weight vector and the peak side-lobe level is used. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed sparse sensor array synthesis algorithm achieves array sparsity with lower side lobe and more concentrated main lobe when operated in spherical and cuboid sensor array. Hence, the sensor selection problem is achieved by the sparse sensor array synthesis.