Computer‐aided experimental studies for adaptive beamforming algorithms and array processing in engineering education

• Published in: Computer applications in engineering education Vol. 32; no. 4
• Main Authors: Salas‐Natera, Miguel A., Zorkun, Aral E., Rodríguez‐Osorio, Ramón M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Adaptive algorithms; adaptive beamforming algorithms; Adaptive systems; Antenna arrays; Antenna radiation patterns; Antennas; Beamforming; Communications systems; Digital computers; engineering design education; Engineering education; interactive education; Smart antenna systems; theory; trade‐offs smart antenna systems
• ISSN: 1061-3773; 1099-0542; 1099-0542
• DOI: 10.1002/cae.22741

Smart antenna and digital antenna systems are considered as a crucial technology for current and future communication systems supporting 5G/6G and nonterrestrial‐networks communications. Based on the information of the received signal/s, smart antenna systems toward the radiation pattern to the desired direction/s. This technique is known as adaptive beamforming. The theories and the applications of adaptive beamforming are taught in engineering educational courses. This paper proposes a set of real‐time interactive experiments for adaptive beamforming algorithms in antenna array processing subject. The proposed experiments can be performed with the computer‐aided experimental studies tool prepared in the MATLAB® environment. The users can easily make comparisons and can perform trade‐offs between different types of adaptive beamforming algorithms, scenarios, and antenna architecture. This is used as a teaching tool for a graduate course on adaptive beamforming algorithms.