NI Accelerates 5G Research with Multi-Antenna Support in MIMO Application Framework
Published2017.08.18 16:24Supporting Massive MIMO Prototyping to Realize 5G Deployment
National Instruments (NI) announced support for multi-antenna user equipment (UE) in the LabVIEW Communications MIMO Application Framework. With this enhancement, the MIMO Application Framework establishes itself as the world's only commercial physical layer reference design, enabling not only desktop simulation but also Massive MIMO prototyping to realize fully functional 5G deployment.
Wireless researchers can pair the MIMO Application Framework with NI software-defined radio hardware to conduct real-time OTA experiments that broadly address MIMO research topics including multi-user MIMO, single-user MIMO, and Massive MIMO.
This multi-FPGA physical layer reference design is fully reconfigurable and modifiable, delivered with LabVIEW Communications source code, and supports building networks composed of multi-antenna devices while minimizing system integration and design work.
Researchers can now employ beamforming techniques not only at base stations but also at UEs, further enhancing overall network throughput, expanding cell coverage, and reducing interference.
The MIMO Application Framework supports maximum network throughput exceeding 1.5 Gb/s and flexible, reconfigurable time-division duplex (TDD)-based frame structure. Additionally, it provides bidirectional communication links that enable seamless integration of custom signal processing algorithms in shorter timeframes compared to other approaches and support conducting Massive MIMO experiments.
Wireless researchers at Lund University in Sweden have participated in NI's RF/Communications Lead User Program and have been using NI's flexible prototyping platform for 5G research. Recently, they demonstrated the availability of Massive MIMO in mobile scenarios for both pedestrian and vehicular users.
Fredrik Tufvesson, professor of wireless systems at Lund University and IEEE member, stated, "Massive MIMO has emerged as a leading 5G technology. It will play an important role in supporting wireless devices that can transition online within years," and added, "The MIMO Application Framework provides the necessary hardware and software capabilities to implement beamforming techniques not only in Massive MIMO base stations but also in multi-antenna UEs that further enhance the overall system performance of 5G networks."
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