Full-Solid Angle Angle-of-Arrival Estimation Using the Phase Reversal Weighting Method

Abstract

This paper presents the phase reversal weighting (PRW) method that provides an angle of arrival (AOA) estimation antenna operating over the full-solid angle three-dimensional space for use in flying car-to-car communications. So far, we have developed a compact interferometric AOA antenna arranged in a circular array for ordinary ground-based car applications. The radiation pattern directs its beam to the horizontal plane and there is a weak radiation to the zenith. This results in some difficulties in realizing the AOA antenna to be used for flying car applications because flying cars have a high degree of freedom in varying their flight routes in both horizontal and vertical directions, allowing communication targets to spread over all solid angles in a three-dimensional manner. In this paper, the PRW method is applied to achieve the AOA antenna with upper and lower hemispheres illumination. The analytical results reveal that a precise angle estimation with a large radiation gain is achieved over the entire three-dimensional space.