Using platform motion for improved spatial filtering in distributed antenna arrays

Abstract

We present a method of combining platform motion and directional matched filtering in post-processing to improve spatial selectivity in distributed arrays of mobile nodes. Coupling platform motion with frequency modulation enables the definition of a spatial bandwidth parameter that, when applied to distributed, mobile antenna arrays with wide platform separations, can be used to appropriately design the radiation pattern to mitigate sidelobe energy or spatially filter signals at desired angles. We show that this process also enables the use of directional matched filtering, where the complex array pattern can be used to define a matched filter in arbitrary directions, to improve the spatial selectivity of the array. Examples are given for a four-element array.