Adaptive Arrays in Packet Radio Networks

Abstract : This research considered the use of adaptive antennas in packet radio networks (PRNs). By using an adaptive array at a packet radio terminal, the receiving pattern of a terminal can change in response to each received packet. For example, in a slotted system, a terminal with an adaptive array can receive one or more packets correctly in a slot even when the slot contains colliding packets, because the array automatically nulls the colliding packets. Under this contract, we have first studied the performance of a single packet radio terminal using a multibeam adaptive array. The throughput-delay performance of the packet terminal has been evaluated for both slotted and unslotted channels. In addition, we have also studied the throughput-delay performance of a small slotted network that uses a single-beam adaptive array at each terminal.