International Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 8354204, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8354204

Research Article

Adaptive Array Beamforming Using a Chaotic Beamforming Algorithm

Ana Jovanović, Luka Lazović, and Vesna Rubežić

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro, Džordža Vašingtona bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Received 16 November 2015; Revised 28 January 2016; Accepted 7 February 2016

Academic Editor: Lei Yu

Copyright © 2016 Ana Jovanović et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The Chaotic beamforming adaptive algorithm is new adaptive method for antenna array’s radiation pattern synthesis. This adaptive method based on the optimization of the Least Mean Square algorithm using Chaos theory enables fast adaptation of antenna array radiation pattern, reduction of the noisy reference signal’s impact, and the improvement of the tracking capabilities. We performed simulations for linear and circular antenna arrays. We also compared the performances of the used and existing algorithms in terms of the radiation pattern comparison.

1. Introduction

The successful design of the adaptive antenna system depends on the selection and performance of the beamforming algorithm used for radiation diagram adaptation and adjustment to the specific scenario of incoming signals. Spatial filtering of desired signals and minimizing the impact of interfering signals are necessary in order to achieve improvements of the transmission quality and the wireless communication systems capacity.

The simplest and most widely used adaptive algorithm is the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm and its modifications [1–5]. In [2], the authors used an array image factor, sandwiched in between two LMS algorithms sections. They achieve better performance compared to the earlier LMS based algorithms. In recent years the modern optimization and adaptive techniques such as particle swarm optimization [6], sequential quadratic programming [7, 8], Chaos mind evolutionary algorithm [9], genetic algorithm [10], and multiobjective wind driven optimization [11] are used for the antenna arrays radiation diagram’s synthesis and modification.

The LMS algorithm and its modifications achieve good results only in cases of antenna arrays with a large number of elements. Also, it is necessary to specify a large number of algorithm parameters with the exactly defined reference signal, which makes these algorithms very complex. This paper uses the Chaotic beamforming adaptive (CBA) algorithm [12] based on the optimization of the LMS algorithm using Chaos theory. The goal of using this algorithm is fast adaptation of the antenna array radiation pattern, the reduction of the noisy reference signal’s impact, and the improvement of the tracking capabilities. In the Chaotic beamforming algorithm, the block for Chaotic optimization and algorithm parameters selection is added to the LMS algorithm. The algorithm has been successfully applied to antenna arrays with a different number of antenna elements, with special emphasis on the algorithm performance in the case of antenna arrays with a small number of elements. Criterion for the selection of the used algorithm’s optimal parameters is the minimum value of the defined fitness function. Fitness function defines the following requirements: precise estimate of signals’ angles of arrival, deep null setting in the diagram of radiation in the direction of the interfering signal, reduction of the main lobe’s width, and the level of the side lobes. We compared the performances of the used and existing algorithms in terms of the radiation pattern comparison.

The paper is organized as follows: in Section 2, the antenna arrays theory is presented in brief, in Section 3 the Chaotic beamforming algorithm is described, the simulation results are shown in Section 4, and the concluding comments are given in Section 5.

2. Antenna Arrays

Figure 1 shows the uniform linear and circular antenna arrays formed of antenna elements, with inter element spacing . The antenna array receives signals from desired sources and the signals from undesired sources .

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: The antenna array geometry: (a) linear and (b) circular.

Total signal received by the antenna array is the sum of the desired signals , interfering signals , and white Gaussian noise :

where

and are matrices of the desired and interfering signals’ “array steering” vectors.

Taking the first antenna in the antenna array as a reference, the matrices are given by the following equations:

In the case of a linear antenna array, signals from the desired source arrive at the angles , the signals from interfering sources arrive at the angles , and the phase shift of the field between the array’s two consecutive elements is given by the following equations:

In the case of a circular antenna array at which signals from the desired source arrive at angles and , and the signals from interfering sources arrive at angles and , the field phase shift between two consecutive elements in the array is given by the following equations:

The total signal described by relation (1) is applied to the input of the radiation pattern forming network.

3. Chaotic Beamforming Algorithm

In this paper, we used the Chaotic beamforming algorithm [12], based on the optimization of the LMS algorithm using Chaos theory. Chaotic systems have several features that make them suitable for use in search procedures and optimization algorithms. These features are great sensitivity to initial conditions, long time unpredictability, and nonrepetition of Chaos [13–15]. That is to say, the chaotic trajectory never visits the same point and that is the main difference between the chaotic search and the search in traditional stochastic optimization techniques. The details about the chaotic search are described in [16]. Different types of chaotic equations that were applied in optimization methods can be found in literature [17–19]. In the chaotic beamforming algorithm, we used equations for Chua’s oscillators with parameters corresponding to the double-spiral chaotic attractor [13].

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a chaotic beamforming algorithm. It can be seen that a block for chaotic optimization of step is added to the LMS algorithm.

Figure 2: Block diagram of the Chaotic beamforming algorithm.

The task of the chaotic optimization is to determine , which minimizes the fitness function Vector contains the variables , which are limited to the lower () and upper () permitted value. In our paper, we adopt and for the LMS algorithm optimization. The fitness function is defined by the following equation [9]:

where variables are described as follows.

Description of variables is as follows:

 : steering angle of the main lobe. : direction of the desired signal arrival. : side lobes maximum level. : side lobes desired maximum level. : main lobe width in the elevation plane. : desired main lobe width in the elevation plane. : main lobe width in the azimuth plane. : desired main lobe width in the elevation plane. : null depth in direction . : desired null depth in direction .

We used the following weights in the numerical analysis: , , , and

Chaotic optimization is based on the chaotic search. The search procedure which is composed of two parts, global and local search, is shown as follows.

Chaotic search consists of the following:

Global search is as follows:

Step 1. Choosing the parameters for Chua’s equations.

Step 2. Initialization of the initial conditions for .

Step 3. The normalization of variables for in the range [].

Step 4. The determination of the maximum number of iterations for the chaotic global search.

Step 5. Forming variables

Step 6. In the th iteration for fitness function is calculated.

Step 7. The coordinates of the vector for which the smallest value of fitness function was obtained are entered into an algorithm for local search.

Local search is as follows:

Step 1. Determine the number of iterations for local search .

Step 2. In the th operation variables , are formed. The sign + or − is selected randomly.

Step 3. Coordinates of vector , for which the lowest value of fitness function is obtained, are announced for in the LMS algorithm.

4. Numerical Results

By using the Chaotic beamforming adaptive algorithm, we obtained linear and circular antenna arrays radiation patterns for different scenarios of incoming signal. We analyzed the impact of noisy reference signal on the algorithm performance in Section 4.1. The influence of the interfering signals’ angle of arrival on the algorithm performance is analyzed in Section 4.2. In Section 4.3, the algorithm is applied to antenna arrays with a different number of antenna elements, with special emphasis on the algorithm performance in the case of antenna arrays with a small number of elements.

4.1. The Analysis of the Noisy Reference Signal’s Impact on the Algorithm Performance

Here we considered the impact of noisy reference signal on the Chaotic beamforming algorithm performance. White Gaussian noise is added to the reference signal. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) values used in the simulations were 3, 5, and 7 dB. The obtained radiation patterns for the different SNR values and the combination of the desired and interfering signals’ incident angles are shown in a normalized form. The normalization is performed with respect to the diagram with the highest gain in the direction of the desired signal.

Figure 3 shows the normalized radiation diagram obtained when a desired (at an angle ) and an interfering signal (at an angle ) arrive on a linear antenna array. SNR values are 3 and 5 dB. The number of antenna elements is and element spacing is .

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Radiation pattern of normalized array factor for different values of SNR: the angle of arrival of the desired signal is and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is 45°, (a) in the () plane and (b) in polar coordinates.

Figure 4 shows the normalized radiation diagram obtained when a desired (at an angle ) and two interfering signals (at angles and ) arrive on a linear antenna array. The value of SNR is 3 dB. The number of antenna elements in the array is and .

Figure 4: Radiation pattern of normalized array factor for different values of SNR: the angle of arrival of the desired signal is and the angles of arrival of the interfering signals are −55° and 45°.

Based on the results shown in Figures 3 and 4, it can be concluded that the Chaotic beamforming algorithm accurately estimates the desired signal’s angle of arrival and sets deep nulls in the directions of the interfering signals for considered levels of noise in the reference signal.

Figure 5 shows the comparative radiation pattern of a linear antenna array obtained using Chaotic beamforming algorithm and LMS algorithm in the cases of accurate and noisy reference signal (the value of the SNR is 3 dB). The number of antenna elements of the array is and .

(a)

(b)

Figure 5: Comparison of the normalized radiation patterns obtained by the Chaotic beamforming algorithm and the LMS algorithm: the angle of arrival of the desired signal is −20° and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is 45°, (a) in the () plane and (b) in polar coordinates.

Figure 6 shows the comparative diagram of the circular antenna array radiation obtained by Chaotic beamforming algorithm and LMS algorithm in cases of accurate and noisy reference signal (the value of the SNR is 3 dB). The number of antenna elements in the array is , and the radius of the array is . Antenna array receives the desired signal at an angle and three interfering signals at angles , , and .

Figure 6: Comparison of the circular array radiation patterns obtained by the Chaotic beamforming algorithm and LMS algorithm, shown in plane of azimuthal angle 60°.

Based on the results shown in Figures 5 and 6, it can be concluded that the Chaotic beamforming algorithm shows robustness to the presence of noise in the reference signal. The Chaotic beamforming algorithm sets deep nulls in the diagram of radiation in the interfering signal’s directions of arrival, regardless of the noise level in the reference signal. The LMS algorithm makes an error in estimating the angle of arrival of the interference signal when reference signal is noisy. Also in the case of linear array, it has decreased levels of the main lobe in the desired signal’s direction.

4.2. The Influence of the Interfering Signal’s Angles of Arrival on Algorithm’s Performance

Here we considered the effect of interfering signal’s angles of arrival on the algorithm performance in cases of accurate and noisy reference signal. To verify the tracking capabilities of the algorithm, the interfering signal’s angles of arrival are selected to be very close to the desired signal’s angle of arrival.

The obtained radiation patterns for the different combinations of desired and interfering signal’s angles of arrival are shown in a normalized form. In all cases, the number of antenna array elements is and .

Figure 7 shows linear arrays radiations patters obtained by the Chaotic beamforming algorithm with noiseless reference signal.

(a)

(b)

Figure 7: Normalized radiation pattern of the linear antenna array: (a) the angle of arrival of the desired signal is −10° and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is −20°; (b) the angle of arrival of the desired signal is 0° and the angles of arrival of the interfering signals are −10° and 20°.

Figure 8 shows the radiation pattern of a linear antenna array obtained by Chaotic beamforming algorithm with noisy reference signal (SNR = 7 dB).

Figure 8: Normalized radiation pattern of the linear antenna array: the angle of arrival of the desired signal is 20° and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is 5°; SNR = 7 dB.

Based on the results shown in Figures 7 and 8, it can be concluded that the Chaotic beamforming algorithm accurately estimates the angles of arrival of desired and interfering signals whether the noisy or noiseless reference signal is used. The Chaotic beamforming algorithm sets deep nulls in direction of interfering signals although the interfering signal’s angles of arrival are very close to the desired signal’s angles of arrival. Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded that the applied algorithm has very good tracking capabilities and suppression of interfering signals.

4.3. The Influence of the Antenna Elements’ Number on the Algorithm’s Performance

Chaotic beamforming algorithm is applied on antenna arrays with a different number of antenna elements, special emphasis being on the algorithm performance in the case of antenna arrays with a small number of elements. The obtained comparative radiation patterns for different combinations of angles of the desired and interfering signals are shown in a normalized form. Linear antenna arrays with and antenna elements are analyzed. The distance between the antenna elements is , in all cases.

Figure 9 shows the comparative radiation patterns obtained using the Chaotic beamforming algorithm with noiseless reference signal.

(a)

(b)

Figure 9: Comparison of the antenna arrays radiation pattern with and elements: (a) the angle of arrival of the desired signal is 40° and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is −35°; (b) the angle of arrival of the desired signal is 0° and the angles of arrival of the interfering signals are −40° and 20°.

Figure 10 shows the comparative antenna arrays radiation pattern obtained by Chaotic beamforming algorithm with noisy reference signal (SNR = 5 dB).

Figure 10: Comparison of the antenna arrays radiation pattern with and elements: the angle of arrival of the desired signal is 40° and the angle of arrival of the interfering signal is −35°; SNR = 5 dB.

Based on the results shown in Figures 9 and 10, it can be concluded that the Chaotic beamforming algorithm successfully adjusts radiation pattern on the specific scenario of incoming signals in the case of the antenna array with a small number of elements (). In all the cases, precise estimation angles of arrival of the desired and interfering signals was achieved whether noisy or noiseless reference signal was used. The Chaotic beamforming algorithm sets deep nulls in direction of interfering signals in the case of the antenna array with a small number of elements.

Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded that the applied algorithm performs a very good adaptation of the radiation pattern and suppression of interfering signals in the case of antenna arrays with a small number of elements.

5. Conclusion

In this paper, we used the Chaotic beamforming adaptive algorithm, based on the optimization of the LMS algorithm using Chaos theory. The obtained radiation patterns are shown in normalized form, for different values of desired and interfering signals’ arrival angles, different levels of noise in the reference signal, and a different number of elements in the array.

We analyzed the influence of the noisy reference signal on the performance of the Chaotic beamforming algorithm. In all analyzed cases, the Chaotic beamforming algorithm accurately directs the main lobe in the desired signal’s direction of arrival. It sets deep nulls in the interfering signal’s direction of arrival regardless of the reference signal noise level. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the Chaotic beamforming algorithm shows robustness to the presence of noise in the reference signal, which justifies the use of chaotic parameter optimization of LMS algorithms.

To verify the tracking capabilities of the algorithm, interfering signals’ angles of arrival are selected to be very close to the desired signal’s angles of arrival. The Chaotic beamforming algorithm precisely estimates the interfering signals’ direction of arrival and sets deep nulls on the diagram in these directions whether the reference signal is noisy or noiseless. It can be concluded that the applied algorithm has very good tracking capabilities and suppression of interfering signals.

In the cases of antenna array with small number of elements, precise estimation of the desired and interfering signal’s angle of arrival is achieved whether noisy or noiseless reference signal was used. In the case of antenna array with a small number of elements, the Chaotic beamforming algorithm sets deep nulls in direction of interfering signals. It can be concluded that the applied algorithm makes very good adjustment of the radiation pattern and suppression of interfering signals in the case of antenna arrays with a small number of elements.

Based on the aforementioned, the Chaotic beamforming algorithm proved to be very precise and relatively simple to use, which makes it suitable it for analysis and adjustment of radiation diagram for complex antenna systems, such as planar and conformal antenna arrays.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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