Blind channel estimation and discrete speed tracking in wireless systems using independent component analysis with particle filtering

For high data rate multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, a joint blind channel estimation and data recovery algorithm is presented for where the relative speed of the transmit/receive terminals may change. This changing speed is called manoeuvering. The blind technique is based on non-stationary independent component analysis with a generalised exponential density function to separate each source signal, and it uses particle filtering to track the time-varying channel. The presented technique also uses a hard decision switching block which adaptively selects between discrete speeds of a manoeuvering terminal. The speed can be therefore tracked within a mobile data communication link, that is, by using only the received data information signal. The performance is evaluated by simulation and is compared with optimal coherent detection as benchmark. A large degradation in system error performance is observed if the switching block is disabled within the algorithm, confirming its advantage. Moreover, to assess the impact of the presented blind channel estimation on system error performance more directly, a fair comparison with a known blind technique based on Kalman filtering and two known pilot-aided systems is presented with the assumption of non-manoeuvering terminals. Improved performance is observed using the presented technique.