Real-time deformation adjustments for phased antenna array
A phased array computing system can include a mounting surface with a plurality of antenna disposed thereon. The mounting surface can include motion sensors disposes at a plurality of different sensor positions to detect the changes to the mounting surface. The system can receive motion data generated by the motion sensors. The system can compute, based on the motion data location offsets for the motion sensors from their original positions on the mounting surface. The system can compute a deformed position for each antenna on the mounting surface using the location offsets for the motion sensors. The system can update, based on the deformed positions, a signal model associated with the antennas to compensate for deformations at the mounting surface during sensor processing.
1. A computing system, comprising:
a mounting surface, the mounting surface comprising:
an antenna disposed at an antenna position of the mounting surface, and
a motion sensor disposed at a sensor position of the mounting surface;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive motion data generated by the motion sensor;
compute, based on the motion data, a location offset for the motion sensor from the sensor position of the mounting surface;
compute a deformed position of the antenna based on the location offset for the motion sensor; and
update, based on the deformed position, a signal model associated with the antenna.
2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein computing the deformed position comprises:
computing an affine transformation matrix for the mounting surface based on the sensor position and the location offset for the motion sensor.
3. The computing system of claim 2 , wherein computing the deformed position further comprises:
computing a homography transformation matrix for the mounting surface based on the sensor position and the location offset for the motion sensor.
4. The computing system of claim 3 , wherein computing the deformed position further comprises:
computing the deformed position of the antenna using a combination of the affine transformation matrix and the homography transformation matrix.
5. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface comprises a plurality of motion sensors, each disposed at a different sensor position of a plurality of sensor positions on the mounting surface.
6. The computing system of claim 5 , wherein the mounting surface defines a two-dimensional surface and each of the plurality of sensor positions are equally separated at an exterior portion of the two-dimensional surface.
7. The computing system of claim 5 , wherein the mounting surface defines a three-dimensional surface and the plurality of sensor positions comprise one or more exterior sensor positions, one or more center sensor positions, and one or more interior sensor positions between the one or more center sensor positions and the one or more exterior sensor positions.
8. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein computing the deformed position of the antenna based on the location offset for the motion sensor, comprises:
computing a homography transformation for the mounting surface by applying a feature matching algorithm to the plurality of sensor positions and a respective offset of each of the plurality of motion sensors from a respective sensor position.
9. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface is associated with a phased antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna, each disposed at a respective antenna position on the mounting surface.
10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
modify a phased array signal processing algorithm using the signal model to account for the deformed position of the antenna.
11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the phased array signal processing algorithm comprises a signal transmission algorithm configured to control a directionality of a radio transmission.
12. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the phased array signal processing algorithm comprises a signal reception algorithm configured to control a directionality of a radio reception.
13. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the phased array signal processing algorithm comprises at least one of: (i) a direction of departure algorithm; or (ii) a direction of arrival algorithm.
14. An antenna array comprising:
a mounting surface;
a plurality of antennas disposed on the mounting surface;
a plurality of motion sensors disposed on the mounting surface; and
signal processing circuitry configured to process radio signals using a signal model that is updated based on a deformed position of an antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the deformed position is based on a location offset of at least one of the plurality of motion sensors.
15. The antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of motion sensors comprise a plurality of inertial measurement units, each comprising at least one of: (i) an accelerometer, (ii) a gyroscope, or (iii) a magnetometer.
16. The antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the location offset is based on motion data from the plurality of motion sensors that is indicative of a deformation of the mounting surface.
17. The antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the mounting surface defines a two-dimensional surface with at least four corners, and wherein the plurality of motion sensors comprise at least one motion sensor located at each of the at least four corners.
18. The antenna array of claim 14 , wherein the mounting surface defines a three-dimensional surface with an exterior portion and a center portion, and wherein the plurality of motion sensors comprise a first motion sensor located within the exterior portion and a second motion sensor located within the center portion.
19. A method comprising:
receiving motion data generated by a motion sensor;
computing, based on the motion data, a location offset for the motion sensor from a sensor position on a mounting surface;
computing a deformed position for an antenna disposed on the mounting surface based on the location offset for the motion sensor; and
updating, based on the deformed position, a signal model associated with the antenna.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein computing the deformed position for the antenna disposed on the mounting surface based on the location offset for the motion sensor, comprises:
computing an affine transformation for the mounting surface based on the sensor position and the location offset for the motion sensor from the sensor position on the mounting surface;
computing a homography transformation for the mounting surface based on the sensor position and the location offset for the motion sensor from the sensor position on the mounting surface; and
computing the deformed position of the antenna based on a combination of the affine transformation and the homography transformation.