Direction of arrival of narrowband signals based on virtual phased antennas

Data collection from field sensors by using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is the application taken in consideration in this paper. All the sensor nodes are kept location unaware to reduce their cost and energy utilization. The issue addressed in this paper is localization of sensor nodes by UAV to collect data in efficient way. ULA of multiple antennas are used to measure the Angle of Arrival (AoA) of incoming signals. However, the drawbacks of mounting such multiple antennas on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) outweigh the benefits. The challenge is to affix multiple antennas and receivers on an UAV, increase its weight which ultimately decrease its payload capacity, flight time, speed and agility. In this paper, we are proposing a new method to estimate the AoA, called Virtual Phase Array (VPA) antenna system. A single moving antenna installed over an UAV taking snapshots every fixed time periods forms an antenna array virtually. This VPA has enable us to introduce two new concepts of adaptive staring precision and multiple frequency use. All these became reality only because number and spacing between antenna elements can be adjusted, which is not easy to implement in physical antenna array especially when antenna is onboard. The proposed system is evaluated by simulation model. Suggested modifications and additions in classical MUSIC algorithm make it possible to operate the virtual antenna system with the same precision as the physical antenna may have, but adding more flexibility, ease of use, cost economy, more reliability and better throughput.