Non-Coherent Distributed Transmission with Chirp Spread Spectrum Modulation

Efficient communication for internet-of-things (IoT) devices in remote rural areas, where resources are limited, remains a significant challenge. A communication technique capable of long-range, low-power communication is essential. Chirp spread spectrum (CSS) combined with multi-antenna transmission could be a potential solution. However, it's challenging to implement a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) configuration in small nodes. In this paper, we delve into the concept of distributed transmission using CSS waveforms to achieve extended communication range while maintaining the same transmit power. Achieving perfect synchronization among transmitters is intricate and time-consuming. Therefore, we resort to non-coherent distributed transmission (NCDT). In the presence of asynchronous transmitters, symbol detection is carried out using a least square (LS) detector. Simulation results demonstrate the better performance of the proposed NCDT-CSS in terms of bit error rate (BER), making it an efficient solution with less power usage for IoT devices in rural communication.