Beam Training and Tracking in mmWave Communication:A Survey

Communicating on millimeter wave(mmWave)bands is ushering in a new epoch of mobile communication which provides the availability of 10 Gbps high data rate transmission.However,mmWave links are easily prone to short transmission range communication because of the serious free space path loss and the blockage by obstacles.To overcome these challenges,highly directional beams are exploited to achieve robust links by hybrid beamforming.Accurately aligning the transmitter and receiver beams,i.e.beam training,is vitally important to high data rate transmission.However,it may cause huge overhead which has negative effects on initial access,handover,and tracking.Besides,the mobility patterns of users are complicated and dynamic,which may cause tracking error and large tracking latency.An efficient beam tracking method has a positive effect on sustaining robust links.This article provides an overview of the beam training and tracking technologies on mmWave bands and reveals the insights for future research in the 6th Generation(6G)mobile network.Especially,some open research problems are proposed to realize fast,accurate,and robust beam training and tracking.We hope that this survey provides guidelines for the researchers in the area of mmWave communications.

A Retrodirective Array Enabled by CMOS Chips for Two-Way Wireless Communication with Automatic Beam Tracking

This article proposes and demonstrates a retrodirective array(RDA)for two-way wireless communication with automatic beam tracking.The proposed RDA is enabled by specifically designed chips made using a domestic complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS)process.The highly integrated CMOS chip includes a receiving(Rx)chain,a transmitting(Tx)chain,and a unique tracking phaselocked loop(PLL)for the crucial conjugated phase recovery in the RDA.This article also proposes a method to reduce the beam pointing error(BPE)in a conventional RDA.To validate the above ideas simply yet without loss of generality,a 2.4 GHz RDA is demonstrated through two-way communication links between the Rx and Tx chains,and an on-chip quadrature coupler is designed to achieve a nonretrodirective signal suppression of 23 dBc.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed RDA,which incorporates domestically manufactured low-cost 0.18 lm CMOS chips,is capable of automatically tracking beams covering±40with a reduced BPE.Each CMOS chip in the RDA has a compact size of 4.62 mm^(2) and a low power consumption of 0.15 W.To the best of the authors’knowledge,this is the first research to demonstrate an RDA with a fully customized CMOS chip for wireless communication with automatic beam tracking。

Cubature Kalman Filter Based Millimeter Wave Beam Tracking for OTFS Systems

In this paper,a Millimeter wave(mmWave)beam tracking problem is studied in orthogonal time frequency space(OTFS)systems.Considering the nonlinearity of beamforming and the constraints of existing Kalman-filtering based beam tracking schemes,we propose a novel Cubature Kalman Filter(CKF)framework tracking the channel state information(CSI)to manage the challenge of highspeed channel variation in single-user moving scene for OTFS systems.Aiming for low complexity for mobile settings,this paper trains only one beam pair to track a path to maintain the reliable communication link in the analog beamforming architecture.Simulation results show that our proposed method has better tracking performance to improve the accuracy of the estimated beam angle compared with prior work.

Mobility-Aware Adaptive Beam Tracking for Vehicles in Mm Wave Communication Networks

The millimeter wave(mm Wave)is a potential solution for high data rate communication due to its availability of large bandwidth.However,it is challenging to perform beam tracking in vehicular mm Wave communication systems due to high mobility and narrow beams.In this paper,an adaptive beam tracking algorithm is proposed to improve the network throughput performance while reducing the training signal overhead.In particular,based on the mobility prediction at base station(BS),a novel frame structure with dynamic bundled timeslot is designed.Moreover,an actor-critic reinforcement learning based algorithm is proposed to obtain the joint optimization of both beam width and the number of bundled timeslots,which makes the beam tracking adapt to the changing environment.Simulation results demonstrate that,compared with the traditional full scan and Kalman filter based beam tracking algorithms,our proposed algorithm can improve the time-averaged throughput by 11.34%and 24.86%respectively.With the newly designed frame structure,it also outperforms beam tracking with conventional frame structure,especially in scenarios with large range of vehicle speeds.

Multi-User MmWave Beam Tracking via Multi-Agent Deep Q-Learning

Beamforming is significant for millimeter wave multi-user massive multi-input multi-output systems.In the meanwhile,the overhead cost of channel state information and beam training is considerable,especially in dynamic environments.To reduce the overhead cost,we propose a multi-user beam tracking algorithm using a distributed deep Q-learning method.With online learning of users’moving trajectories,the proposed algorithm learns to scan a beam subspace to maximize the average effective sum rate.Considering practical implementation,we model the continuous beam tracking problem as a non-Markov decision process and thus develop a simplified training scheme of deep Q-learning to reduce the training complexity.Furthermore,we propose a scalable state-action-reward design for scenarios with different users and antenna numbers.Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the designed method.

An online fast multi-track locating algorithm for high-resolution single-event effect test platform

To improve the efficiency and accuracy of single-event effect(SEE)research at the Heavy Ion Research Facility at Lanzhou,Hi’Beam-SEE must precisely localize the position at which each heavy ion hitting the integrated circuit(IC)causes SEE.In this study,we propose a fast multi-track location(FML)method based on deep learning to locate the position of each particle track with high speed and accuracy.FML can process a vast amount of data supplied by Hi’Beam-SEE online,revealing sensitive areas in real time.FML is a slot-based object-centric encoder-decoder structure in which each slot can learn the location information of each track in the image.To make the method more accurate for real data,we designed an algorithm to generate a simulated dataset with a distribution similar to that of the real data,which was then used to train the model.Extensive comparison experiments demonstrated that the FML method,which has the best performance on simulated datasets,has high accuracy on real datasets as well.In particular,FML can reach 238 fps and a standard error of 1.6237μm.This study discusses the design and performance of FML.

A robust beam tracking scheme for millimeter wave HetNets

Millimeter Wave(mmWave)communication has been widely acknowledged as an attractive solution to address high-speed transmission of massive data in 5G and beyond 5G systems due to the promising spectrum availability.However,mmWave signals are highly susceptible to blockage and may suffer from rapidly changing channels.Thus,directional/beam tracking becomes imperative yet essential for robust mmWave communications.To address this challenge,we propose a robust beam tracking scheme for mmWave Heterogeneous Networks(HetNets)with multi-connectivity.Different from most existing schemes,the proposed beam tracking scheme is effective for outage events.We first discuss theμWave-assisted beam tracking procedure with and without candidate beams,and then analyze the inherent correlation between mmWave link quality and the operating beamwidth and occlusion range to derive the optimal beamwidth.Theoretical and numerical results show that the proposed beam tracking scheme can improve the robustness of mmWave communications while guaranteeing the rate performance.

中低速磁浮梁轨一体轨道梁钢混接头试验研究

针对中低速磁浮分离式轨道梁建筑高度较大、无法考虑F轨刚度贡献等问题,提出了一种开孔钢板式梁轨一体轨道梁结构,并针对其钢-混结合部的静力性能开展足尺模型试验和有限元仿真计算分析.首先,介绍了梁轨一体轨道梁工程背景以及钢-混结合部的结构特征;其次,设计了钢-混结合部静载模型试验,测试F轨、钢连接件和混凝土等构件在各级荷载下的应力和位移;最后,建立了钢-混结合部实体有限元模型,并结合试验数据分析了钢-混结合部的受力性能、传力机理以及设计参数影响.研究结果表明:1)在1.50倍设计荷载内,钢-混结合部基本处于弹性状态,连接件承载力满足设计要求;荷载继续增大时,F轨的荷载-应力曲线表现出一定的非线性;5.47倍设计荷载下,混凝土梁体发生开裂破坏.2)F轨内外磁极位移均较小,钢-混结合部刚度较大;F轨内外磁极位移差在设计荷载下满足设计限值;1.58倍设计荷载下内外磁极位移差达到0.54 mm,开始超过位移差限值;表明钢混结合部刚度的富裕量小于强度,钢连接件应以刚度控制设计.3)在正常运营状态,磁浮列车荷载主要由钢连件的钢板承压传递,焊钉与开孔钢板传力比例较小;钢连接件中开孔直径、贯穿钢筋直径对传力影响较小,钢连接件腹板厚度增加使得钢混结合部处传力更加平顺.

横向贯通式中低速磁浮一体轨道梁钢-混结合部试验研究

为解决中低速磁浮分离式轨道梁存在的养护难、构件多,以及无法考虑F轨刚度贡献等问题,提出一种横向贯通式梁轨一体轨道梁结构,针对其钢-混结合部的静力性能开展有限元分析和足尺模型试验研究,并对关键设计参数进行参数分析。结果表明,在5倍设计荷载内,钢-混结合部基本处于弹性状态,承载力满足设计要求,且具备较高富裕量;竖向荷载主要通过钢板承压作用传递至混凝土梁体,焊钉对竖向荷载的传递作用较小;设计参数分析表明,适量提高钢连接件钢板厚度有利于竖向荷载的平顺传递。研究结果可以为梁轨一体轨道梁设计提供参考。

中低速磁悬浮铁路路基轨道梁计算方法

研究目的:中低速磁悬浮铁路是一种新型交通运输系统,其路基-轨道梁结构对系统的安全性、运行稳定性和乘坐舒适性有重要影响。为简单合理确定车辆荷载作用下路基-轨道梁结构的挠度和内力以便为实际工程设计提供理论依据,基于Winkler弹性地基上的Timoshenko梁模型,建立中低速磁悬浮铁路路基轨道梁计算方法。研究结论:(1)通过拟静力法将车辆动力荷载转换为等效惯性力,结合梁体边界条件,采用Laplace变换方法,推导出了竖向集中荷载作用下轨道基础梁的挠度和内力的计算公式,并通过室内模型试验和现场测试进行了验证;(2)轨道基础梁的挠度和弯矩沿梁体长度均呈中间大、两端小的抛物线型分布模式,二者理论值与试验值的最大误差分别约为10%、5.6%;(3)梁体剪力沿长度呈跨中为零的线性分布,理论值与试验值最大误差约为5%;(4)本文所建立的计算方法可为中低速磁悬浮铁路路基轨道梁的实际工程设计提供参考。

磁悬浮轨道梁均匀温度及温差分量极值研究

与一般公铁桥梁不同,磁悬浮轨道梁的温度场会受到周围磁场与功能件升温的影响。由于我国规范暂未对磁浮轨道梁均匀温度和温差分量的极值作出明确规定,研究具有概率保证的温度分量代表值具有重要意义。根据长沙磁浮运营线某混凝土箱梁1年多的现场温度监测数据,分析梁体均匀温度与竖向等效线性温差的时变特征。研究分别采用单变量线性回归法(ULR法)和梯度提升回归树法(GBRT法)建立基于气象因素的结构温度分量预测模型,对比发现GBRT法不仅能提高均匀温度的预测精度,还能克服ULR法无法预测竖向等效线性温差的局限性。而后将1960—2019年的长期气象数据输入到建立好的GBRT预测模型中,得到磁浮箱梁各温度分量60年的长期预测值,经整理后得到均匀温度和竖向等效线性温差的日极值、年极值样本。结合最大熵极值模型和Fourier函数得到各温度分量的日极值时变曲线,对年极值样本建立最大熵模型并确定百年重现期下的温度分量代表值。研究结果表明:磁浮箱梁均匀温度呈现以年为周期的季节性变化,竖向等效线性温差受太阳辐射影响,呈夏季高、冬季低的特点;百年重现期下磁浮箱梁均匀温度和竖向等效线性温差的代表值分别为44.4℃、8.6℃。该方法结合GBRT算法和最大熵极值模型,解决了极值分析中年极值样本不足的问题,结果可为磁浮轨道梁的温度变形设计提供参考。

基于四象限探测器的光束稳定系统有效带宽测试(特邀)

详细探讨了一种基于四象限探测器的光束稳定系统的带宽测试。文章首先介绍了光束稳定系统的工作原理、重要性以及主要应用场景。随后,对光束倾角传感器,尤其是四象限探测器的工作原理、优势以及在光束稳定系统中的应用进行了详细的阐述。接着,文章详细介绍了光束稳定系统的组成、工作原理及其在实际应用中的重要性。在系统测试部分,详细描述了测试环境、方法以及测试结果。测试结果显示,基于四象限探测器的光束稳定系统,X轴有效抑制带宽为138.35 Hz,Y轴有效抑制带宽为131.96 Hz。最后,对测试结果进行了总结,并提出了未来工作的展望。

高速公路桥梁变宽段曲线横移架梁技术研究

在桥梁工程中,对于既处在曲线段又是变宽段的预制梁安装路段往往不可避免,此时一般采用架桥机常规直线横移轨道进行架梁铺设,随之带来的问题是需要令架桥机前、中支腿错位排布,如此一来施工的精度、难度都有所提升,并且存在一定的安全隐患。依托于江西宜遂高速公路桥梁某路段,提出了使用曲线横移轨道为架桥机在曲线变宽段进行架梁作业时平稳过渡到支腿错位分布提供条件,以达到缩短工期、保障安全和提高经济效益的目的。

面向移动用户的RIS波束追踪与覆盖增强技术

智能超表面(Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface,RIS)技术因其能够灵活操控信道环境的电磁特性,一经出现就引起了学术界和工业界的广泛关注。目前对于RIS辅助无线通信系统的理论研究与实际测试以静止场景为主,缺乏移动场景的研究。而由于RIS反射波束较窄,存在着移动场景下RIS反射波束难以对准目标,导致覆盖增强效果较差的问题。针对此问题,本文创新性地结合了波达方向(Direction Of Arrival,DOA)估计理论与RIS覆盖增强技术,实现了针对移动用户的RIS波束追踪与覆盖增强,并在此基础上搭建了Sub 6G频段下RIS辅助的移动场景原型平台。此外,本文在实验室对比了不同速度下,发射端移动而接收端保持静止、接收端移动而发射端保持静止两种场景下,经RIS反射后的接收信号功率与信干噪比(Signal Interference plus Noise Ratio,SINR)值。实测结果表明,在两种实测动态场景下RIS编码前后的接收信号功率与SINR均有提升,证明RIS在移动场景下仍然具有较好的性能提升。本文的研究结果可对后续移动场景下RIS辅助通信提供数据支撑与可参考原型平台。

悬挂式轨道梁与道岔梁间锁定补偿机构

[目的]为了补偿悬挂式单轨交通系统中移动式道岔在轨道梁与道岔梁接口之间预留的转辙安全缝隙,实现道岔转辙到位的可靠锁定,提高列车通过岔区时的安全性及旅客舒适度,提出一种梁间锁定补偿一体化机构,即锁定与补偿功能共用一处动力源,实现道岔转辙到位后先锁定再补偿的时序要求。[方法]介绍了悬挂式单轨道岔的应用现状及主要存在的问题,并对其应用场景进行了分析;介绍了悬挂式轨道梁与道岔梁的梁间锁定补偿机构的设计组成,并对该机构的运动工作原理进行了分析。[结果及结论]所提锁定补偿机构整体外形结构尺寸紧凑,能够满足悬挂式单轨移动式道岔梁与轨道梁之间狭小的安装空间。该机构通过一体化连杆的空间布局设计实现了梁间的可靠锁定、道岔梁与轨道梁间的接缝补偿,以及满足了锁定与补偿两处功能先锁定再补偿的时序要求。

轨宽为1250 mm且跨度为25 m时跨座式单轨交通的预应力钢筋混凝土轨道梁截面跨高比

[目的]为适应新型跨座式单轨列车的构造特点,需对新型预应力钢筋混凝土轨道梁开展力学性能分析及界面优化研究。[方法]提出了适合该新型列车特点的预应力钢筋混凝土轨道梁,并采用经验证的数值分析模型,对8根具有不同跨高比的25 m跨轨道梁开展了静力分析。[结果及结论]提出的新型预应力钢筋混凝土轨道梁的力学性能满足规范要求;25 m跨度的新型轨道梁在跨高比为16.6~18.5时具有较好的力学性能。

预弯钢-混组合跨座式单轨轨道梁力学性能分析及截面优化

[目的]传统跨座式单轨轨道梁大多采用宽为850 mm的截面形式,针对我国三四线城市的城市轨道交通建设要求,相关企业提出了宽为1250 mm的跨座式单轨列车截面形式。为解决新型跨座式单轨列车的特殊需求,有必要对其轨道梁的力学性能和截面形式进行研究。[方法]采用数值模拟方法,建立了预弯钢-混组合轨道梁模型;基于传统轨道梁截面形式,提出宽为1250 mm的预弯钢-混组合跨座式单轨轨道梁初步截面形式;分析不同荷载组合情况下的截面力学性能,并以用钢量最省为目标,对初步截面形式进行截面参数优化。[结果及结论]随着钢箱梁顶板厚度增加、钢箱梁上翼缘最大正应力呈减小的趋势;随着钢箱梁底板厚度的增加,钢箱梁下翼缘最大正应力值呈减小的趋势;随着腹板厚度的增加,钢箱梁腹板最大剪应力值呈减小的趋势。在最不利荷载工况组合下,所提轨道梁初步截面形式的刚度与强度均满足规范容许限值;优化后的顶板厚度、腹板厚度、底板厚度分别为16 mm、20 mm、16 mm,钢材表面积可节省约29.89%。

RIS辅助多用户波束跟踪系统与硬件试验

可重构智能表面(reconfigurable intelligent surface,RIS,也称智能超表面)通过智能调控电磁传播路径,有效提高了6G通信系统的性能。然而,RIS集成大量反射单元使得多波束调控复杂度高、码本搜索空间大,导致实时调控能力不足,难以应用于多用户波束跟踪。为提升RIS在多用户移动场景的适用性,创新基于逆衍射的场源迭代模型,快速生成近远场多用户调控码本,设计RIS辅助单基站定位方案,感知用户移动位置实时切换波束。研制RIS辅助多用户波束跟踪系统原型,实现多用户移动过程中快速波束对准。试验结果表明,毫秒级波束切换可实现移动多用户的实时信息传输。

电子束选区熔化单轨道成型不平直的形成机制研究

电子束选区熔化(electron beam selective melting,EBM)技术因其具有能量利用率高、制造的零件强度高以及残余应力小等制造优势而发展迅速,但在成型过程中单轨道两侧出现的不平直会严重降低零件的加工质量和各种性能。采用离散单元法(discrete element method,DEM)建立三维介观粉末床模型,数值模拟了EBM熔化金属粉末的过程,并对不同工艺参数下单轨道成型的截面进行了详细对比分析,发现扫描速度、扫描功率以及粉末粒径对单轨道成型的不平直度影响较大,研究结果揭示了单轨道成型过程中两侧熔体产生凸出、凹陷和空隙等不平直特征的形成机制。

基于级联角度的AIRS辅助大规模MIMO系统波束跟踪方案

智能反射表面(intelligent reflecting surface,IRS)可以通过提供额外的视线(line of sight,LoS)路径补偿传播损耗或解决阻塞问题,有效地提高毫米波(millimeter wave,mmWave)通信系统的性能,被认为是下一代移动通信的核心技术。与传统的地面IRS相比,部署在无人机、热气球等空中平台上的空中IRS(aerial IRS,AIRS)结合了空中平台的高移动特性/旋转特性和IRS提供的优质链路特性,可以提供更广阔的信号覆盖范围。考虑到现实场景中用户的移动性,通信系统有必要实时调整波束成形以使波束对准移动用户。然而,AIRS不具备有源射频链,难以在AIRS处获取离开角和到达角,增加了波束跟踪的复杂性。针对这一问题,建立了具有时变信道的AIRS辅助mmWave大规模多输入多输出(multiple input multiple output,MIMO)系统模型,结合基站端有源波束成形、AIRS的旋转角度和无源波束成形设计,提出了一种基于级联角度的无迹卡尔曼滤波波束跟踪方案。仿真结果表明,提出的方案具有较高的跟踪精度,同时AIRS的旋转特性对提升系统可达速率起着重要作用。