Innovative Hybrid Over-The-Air Chamber for Quick Multi-Functional Testing of Wireless Devices

Purpose and goal:

The goal of the project is to develop innovative hybrid chamber techniques, including the necessary hardware and algorithms, to enable time and cost-efficient production, conformance, and functional testing of telecommunication base stations.

Objectives: 1) Tailored test scenario definition; 2) Optimized electronically reconfigurable chamber and antenna array design; 3) Development of testing methodologies; 4) Experimental validation. Expected results and effects: Project´s expected outcomes and results include: * Test scenarios for base stations in the hybrid chamber;

* The optimized hybrid chamber design, including the chamber antenna array and RF backend to realize these test scenarios; * Dynamic environment emulation, electronic angle-of-arrival steering;

* Testing methodologies to measure key performance indicators for 5G/6G base stations (such as TRP, radiation patterns, EIRP, OOB emissions); * Experimental validation of the developed hardware and methodologies. Approach and implementation: The implementation of the project is planned as follows:

* A dedicated simulation tool will be used to develop and numerically validate the chamber design and test methodologies.

* The hybrid chamber built during the pre-study will be upgraded to enable testing realistic DUTs using developed test methodologies and scenarios.

* Maximum utilization of the base station hardware components (provided by Ericsson) as part of the chamber to improve cost-efficiency and sustainability. * Utilizing Xilinx Zynq ZCU216 board to perform experiments.