Phased array antenna controlled by FPGA-ARM Cortex-M Processor

Abstract

This paper discusses the architecture of an adaptive transmitting antenna array that allows highly flexible beamsteering. Antenna arrays are used in many digital signal processing applications due to their ability to locate signal sources. The Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation is a key task of array signal processing, with the Taguchi method and Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC). Although various algorithms have been developed for DOA estimation, their high complexity prevents their use in real-time applications. In this paper, we design and develop an implementation using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA Artix-7), which is the most widely used ARM processor in embedded systems. The antenna array is digitally controlled with the phases synthesized by the Taguchi method.