Methods for handling static interference environments
Publish date: 2019-06-25
Report number: FOI-R--4780--SE
Pages: 40
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- co-located systems
- system integration
- frequency hopping
- EMC
- measurement methodology
- noise sources
- frequency
Abstract
Reliable wireless communication systems are crucial in order for the armed forces to fulfil their mission. The number of radio communications systems on board modern military platforms increases, to meet a growing need for sharing information. Despite assuring electromagnetic compliance (EMC) for subsystems on the platform, there are risks for co-location problems. These problems can manifest both between different radio communications systems, and between a communications system and another system vital for the mobility, effect/firepower and protection of the platform. Two important factors that limit the possible measures and compromises are the decreasing availability of military spectrum and a small number of possible antenna locations. The increasing number of integrated radio systems and the fact that more and more systems need to share the same spectrum slices, means that the importance of system integration increases. One particular example, detailed in the report, is the effects of out-of-band emissions on co-located, frequency-hopping radio networks. Measurement methodologies for verifying the reliability of integrated radio systems is an important part in the integration of systems on a platform. This includes, but is not limited to, measurements to verify that EMC standards are fulfilled. Further measurements, to verify that co-located radio systems do not negatively impact each other, are also needed. Further, it is crucial that these measurements are repeated and followed up when new systems are integrated to a platform during its life cycle. Methods for treating the antenna as a system component are presented. These methods can be used to determine how the placement of antennas on a platform affects the reliability of the integrated radio systems. More specifically, a statistical method for estimating antenna performance for frequency hopping systems is presented. There are systems on a military platform that generate noise with impulsive character. Determining the effect of impulsive noise sources on digital radio receivers requires methods that considers the character of the noise. The report presents methods for estimating radio receiver performance, with and without error correction coding, in impulsive noise; methods for identifying the dominant noise sources; and a tool for finding acceptable solutions in scenarios with multiple impulse noise sources. System integration and co-existence are complex problems and there is no universal solution that solves all of the problems. This report points out some possible improvements that solve different parts of the studied problems, for example methods for the transmitter and the receiver, design and placement of antennas, and finally requirements and verification. None of the methods solve all co-existence problems, but all methods could be parts of the complete solution.