A Millimeter Wave Testbed For Repeatable High Velocity Measurements

Future applications of millimeter waves (mmWaves) in vehicular scenarios ask for the characterization of the time-variant wideband mmWave channel. For this contribution, we manufactured and measured a proof of concept circuitry intended to receive mmWave signals repeatably at velocities of up to 50 meters per second (=180 km/h = 112 mph). Our design is based on a rotating arm, spinning a small antenna platform around a central pivot in a repeatable manner. Two single-channel rotary joints are used for interfacing multiplexed I and Q components, auxiliary carriers, as well as the DC power supply to and from the small antenna platform at the end of the spinning arm. Our custom designed RF circuitry withstands the accelerations caused by centripetal forces of up to 250 g. Measurements of scattering parameters and phase noise show the applicability of our design.