Machine Learning-Based Multipath Components Clustering and Cluster Characteristics Analysis in High-Speed Railway Scenarios

Channel multipath components (MPCs) clustering and cluster characterization are the prerequisite for the development of cluster based channel models. This article investigates the MPCs clustering based on machine learning (ML) and analyzes the cluster characteristics in typical high-speed railway (HSR) scenarios. A variational Bayesian Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-based algorithm is introduced to achieve the space–time clustering of MPCs, which incorporates the statistical characteristics of MPCs and can automatically determine the optimum number of clusters. Moreover, a novel density-based validity index is proposed for evaluating the MPCs clustering performance. The proposed validity index improves the traditional index by considering the intracluster density, which can be calculated according to the Graham scanning method and Green’s formula. In addition to synthetic datasets, realistic MPCs datasets collected in an HSR obstructed viaduct scenario are used for the performance evaluation of the clustering algorithm and clustering validity index. Based on clustering results in the measured scenario, static cluster characteristics, including cluster number, intercluster and intracluster delay spreads (DSs) and angle spreads (ASs), and dynamic cluster characteristics such as cluster lifetime and birth and death property of clusters, are extracted and analyzed. These results will be useful for cluster-based channel modeling in future HSR mobile communication systems.