Test & Measurement

Cloud-based 5G RAN analytics automates data processing

Tue, Aug 17, 2021

Data processing, reporting and analytics are automated with the Nemo 5G radio access network (RAN) Analytics software by Keysight Technologies.

The automated cloud-based software streamlines data processing, as well as reporting and analytics, to speed analysis of a mobile operator’s 5G RAN performance.

It is based on a centralised, web-based data management platform for enterprise-level analytics and reporting. It enables operators, service contractors and network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) to accelerate network site acceptance, optimisation, benchmarking and troubleshooting. Nemo 5G RAN Analytics combines data analytics, built on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) frameworks, with an intuitive user interface (UI) to manage large amounts of data captured in a live 5G network.

The increase in multi-vendor 5G deployments is creating a need for synchronised data management tools that simplifies access to interactive views and accelerates the uploading, processing, analysis and reporting of large volumes of data, said Petri Toljamo, vice president and general manager for Nemo Wireless Network Solutions at Keysight. “By improving the efficiency in the data analytics workflow, Nemo 5G RAN Analytics supports smooth roll-outs of a wide range of 5G services in diverse network typologies,” he added.

Available as software as a service (SaaS), Nemo 5G RAN Analytics seamlessly connects with other Keysight Nemo solutions including Nemo Outdoor 5G NR Drive Test which is a laptop-based software for measuring the real end-user quality of experience (QoE) in 5G and legacy wireless networks.

There is also Nemo Cloud Remote Monitoring, a centralised, web-based service that enables users to remotely control and manage measurement fleets in real time.

Other mobile software tools are Nemo Handy, which is measurement software that uses Android-based commercial off the shelf (COTS) smartphones for verifying QoE in cellular networks. Another is Nemo Network Benchmarking which enables mobile operators to benchmark end-user QoE across multiple 5G NR and 4G LTE networks.

Finally there is Nemo Backpack 5G In-Building Benchmarking which allows users to measure in-building key performance indicators (KPIs) across multiple 5G networks simultaneously.

Combined, these Keysight’s Nemo software components enable users to quickly upload data captured in the field and share a common set of analytics reports across an organisation.

Centralising the data associated with a range of field-based measurements simplifies access to the data that underpins time-sensitive reporting, root cause analysis and other cross-organizational activities. Nemo 5G RAN Analytics enables users to automate a range of activities, including data throughput, radio frequency (RF) and voice performance analysis; identification of network issues and root-cause analysis; near real-time drill down diagnostics; benchmarking performance of devices and cellular networks; creating, managing and distributing customisable reports and dashboards; analysis of over the top (OTT) applications such as YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.

http://www.keysight.com

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Rohde & Schwarz and Quectel cooperate on cellular-V2X for automotive 3GPP

Mon, Jul 12, 2021

Selected 3GPP test cases based on Rohde & Schwarz’s R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester for a Quectel AG15 C-V2X module have been verified by the two companies.

Cellular vehicle to everything (C-V2X) connectivity technology is expected to improve road safety and accelerate autonomous driving. The C-V2X PC5 interface operates in the 5.9GHz frequency to enable direct, reliable, low latency communication between vehicles (V2V), vehicles and infrastructure (V2I) and vehicles and pedestrians (V2P). According to Rohde & Schwarz, in order for the automotive industry to deploy this technology in a timely manner will require cooperation between suppliers.

The test cases performed by Rohde & Schwarz and Quectel can be used by automotive companies looking to pre-validate 3GPP system performance before entering OMNIAIR or CATARC certification processes. The test system provides a high degree of automation and flexible instrument configuration, which meets the requirements of the automotive industry for C-V2X testing, say the companies. Importantly, this can be done leveraging existing investments in Rohde & Schwarz equipment.

The Quectel AG15 is an automotive grade C-V2X module which has been designed and manufactured according to IATF 16949:2016 standards. It is intended for use in harsh environments and provides superior ESD/EMI protection performance, claims the company.

Manfred Lindacher, vice president of global sales automotive international, Quectel Wireless Solutions, commented: “We’re delighted to have collaborated with Rohde & Schwarz to validate these test cases and are looking forward to helping our customers on the road to build a smarter world with our automotive grade C-V2X modules.”

Rohde & Schwarz supplies test and measurement software, instruments and systems. Its expertise can be applied through the entire automotive lifecycle from pre-development to production. OEMs, Tier 1s and chip suppliers around the world use the company’s products for automotive radar, connectivity, infotainment, high performance computing and EMC. It develops, integrates and production tests radar for ADAS and autonomous driving systems. It also has expertise in wireless technology for robust connectivity in all standards from 5G and C-V2X to UWB, WiFi6 and GNSS. In-vehicle networks support the latest bus speeds and engine control units (ECUs).

With decades of experience in EMC testing, Rohde & Schwarz offers test and measurement equipment and customisable turnkey test systems for performing EMI and EMS measurements on vehicles and components in line with all major CISPR and OEM specific EMC standards. It supports full vehicle antenna testing and also wireless co-existence testing with using own systems and instruments. The company also offers solutions for board level tests (ICT/FCT/BS) during ECU production. Partners and customers around the world use these test solutions to ensure automotive components and systems function correctly, co-exist successfully and communicate with the outside world without errors.

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com

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Automotive radar sensors simulate laterally moving objects

Fri, Jul 02, 2021

Driving scenarios for testing radar based advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and radar sensors used in autonomous cars are simulated entirely over the air by the Rohde & Schwarz RTS radar test system. The RTS system consists of R&S AREG800A automotive radar echo generator (back end) and the R&S QAT100 antenna array (front end).

Currently, laterally moving objects are simulated by mechanically moving antennae. The R&S RTS replaces the mechanical movement by electronically switching individual antennae in the front end on and off. Even objects moving laterally to the car at very high speed can be simulated reliably and reproducibly, says Rohde & Schwarz. The R&S RTS is able to simulate the radial velocity (Doppler shift) and the size (radar cross section) of objects at user configurable ranges, including very small ranges, adds Rohde & Schwarz. Objects can be represented by cascading multiple R&S AREG800A back ends.

The R&S RTS moves tests currently performed on the road into the lab. This allows early error detection and a significant reduction in costs, claims Rohde & Schwarz.

The number of radar sensors in vehicles is growing, with long range radars required by NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), and an increasing number of corner radars are installed that can also monitor objects moving laterally. The latest generation of radar sensors have integrated RF antennae and signal processors for object recognition on the same chip. That is why the objects to be recognised need to be simulated over the air in radar sensor tests, argues Rohde & Schwarz.

The R&S RTS – consisting of the R&S AREG800A back end and the R&S QAT100 antenna array front end – is a target simulator that generates dynamic radar echoes that can be used at all stages of automobile radar sensor testing – from pre-development through hardware-in-the-loop lab tests to validation of ADAS/autonomous functions integrated in the vehicle.

The back end can simulate a large number of independent artificial objects and dynamically vary their range, size (radar cross section) and radial velocity. With an instantaneous bandwidth of 4GHz between 76 and 81GHz, it covers the typical frequency range of current and future automotive radar sensors.

The front end uses up to 192 independently switchable antennae to simulate objects moving laterally to the car’s direction of movement, providing very fine resolution, high switching speed and high repeatability. Electronic switching of the antennae does not cause any wear to RF cables and other moving parts, as is otherwise encountered with mechanical antenna motion used in traditional test systems. An optional transmit array makes it possible to simulate two objects very close together and moving laterally to the car. The small patch antennae and the absorber-lined surface provide a low-reflection RF front end with a very small radar cross section. This reduces the sensor’s noise floor and suppresses close range targets and potential multi-path reflections. The antenna spacing of just 3.7mm delivers very fine angular resolution. Multiple front ends can be combined to cover larger fields of view of radar sensors. An angular resolution of less than 0.5 degrees is possible.

From simple scenarios such as automatic emergency breaking, the R&S RTS is modular and can be extended to cover very complex scenarios with multiple radar sensors. Any number of R&S QAT100 front ends and R&S AREG800A back ends can be combined. One of the back ends synchronises all the components installed in the set up. A graphical user interface (GUI) with a touchscreen makes it easy to configure the test set up.

For test automation with industry-standard tools, the R&S RTS comes with a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) interface conforming to the ASAM Open Simulation Interface specification.

http://www.press.rohde-schwarz.com

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Anritsu upgrades Network Master Pro MT1000A for 5G and O-RAN services

Wed, May 26, 2021

Claimed to be the smallest tester in its class to support mobile networks up to 100Gbits per second, the Network Master Pro MT1000A has been upgraded by Anritsu with a synchronous measurement function.

The MU100090B is a GNSS disciplined oscillator supporting GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou and QZSS. It receives signals from each of GNSS to output a UTC-traceable reference time signal as well as 10MHz signals as a time-synchronous, high-accuracy reference timing supplied to the portable MT1000A, supporting SyncE Wander and PTP tests up to 25Gbits per second for measuring network time synchronisation.

Anritsu hopes to facilitate construction of time-synchronous infrastructure, a key technology supporting 5G networks which are expected to support increasing levels of services such as hi-definition video streaming, autonomous driving, IoT sensing and smart factories.

Multiple MT1000A testers at remote sites can be operated and monitored from the central office using the site over remote access (SORA) MX109020A software to help quickly pinpoint synchronisation problems.

The company has added the high performance GNSS disciplined oscillator MU100090B to the range of modules for the portable, battery-operated MT1000A to help simplify on-site time-synchronisation tests.

The deployment of 5G communications networks brings advantages such as high speeds, high reliability, low latency, and multiple simultaneous connections. The millimetre wave (mmWave) band used by 5G technology employs the TDD time-division duplexing technology to manage the timing of uplink and downlink signals. This technology requires that the time at all base stations is precisely synchronised. Additionally, an IoT-based society will require co-operation between devices exchanging position information acquired using observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning technology, which requires high-accuracy time synchronisation between base stations.

Base stations can be synchronised using wired-network technologies called SyncE and PTP, which require both measurement of the network time-synchronisation performance when installing and maintaining a cell site, and a guaranteed network performance, explains Anritsu.

The O-RAN Alliance increasingly requires tests of overall mobile network time-synchronisation performance to assure interconnectivity.

Time-synchronisation quality is indicated by drift from co-ordinated universal time (UTC), so precise time-synchronisation measurement requires expensive infrastructure, adds Anritsu.

http://www.anritsu.com

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