A System Simulation Framework for Modeling Space Modulation Techniques

Space modulation techniques (SMTs) are multiple-input multiple-output based communication systems that recently gained definitions for a family of hardware implementations. As such, several new components, such as radio frequency (RF) switches, combiners, and splitters, are needed to efficiently implement variant SMT transmitters. Besides, existing techniques for channel estimation and frame synchronization need to be redesigned considering the specific nature of SMT operation. In order to make these implementations realizable, various studies need to be conducted to analyze system performance and potential hardware effects. Modeling SMTs using simulation can provide an appropriate medium to achieve that exactly. Moreover, modeling hardware using simulations has been proven already in the past, to reduce development cycles and to minimize costly mistakes. In this paper, a baseband modeling framework for a family of eight SMT transmitter hardware system models is defined and explained. The models are based on Simulink and leverage the RF Blockset toolbox. The bit error performance of the models is also verified against analytical bounds.