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arXiv · 2410.17356

Wireless Picosecond Time Synchronization for Distributed Antenna Arrays with Dynamic Connectivity

Naim Shandi·Jason M. Merlo·Jeffrey A. Nanzer
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Abstract

Phase, time, and frequency coordination are crucial for the coherent operation of distributed antenna arrays. This paper demonstrates a high accuracy decentralized time synchronization method for arrays with dynamic connectivity. To overcome challenges such as alteration in network topology, system scaling, and single- or multiple-node failures, we present a decentralized time synchronization method implementing the average consensus algorithm and two-way time transfer. Our approach supports decentralized time synchronization with picosecond accuracy ($< 13$ ps), unbiased convergence, resilience to node failures, and robustness to other network connection adversities. A time synchronization precision of under 3 ps was achieved for a fully connected frequency syntonized network. The algorithm ensured convergence in time even for a network with only one link connecting two randomly chosen nodes at each iteration; however, the speed of convergence decreased along with the number of connected links. The method is exhibited for a six-node distributed array, by both simulation and experimental implementation using software defined radios.

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Naim Shandi, Jason M. Merlo, Jeffrey A. Nanzer. 2024-10-22. Wireless Picosecond Time Synchronization for Distributed Antenna Arrays with Dynamic Connectivity. https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.17356

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