A Self-Organizing Random Array Communications Relay

A sparse random array with self-organizing properties is proposed as a communications relay. The relay consists of randomly deployed, low-power transmit/receive elements with capabilities for phasing their retransmissions to arrive coherently at the ultimate destination. Signal-to-noise ratio results for conventional modulation schemes corrupted with additive noise are given, together with possible system block diagrams. It is concluded that, in spite of the complexity, practical systems can be built with extremely low electromagnetic radiation densities with point-to-point characteristics at least as good as with conventional systems employing high power relays. The novel characteristics make the proposed system particularly suitable for tactical military communication, and variants thereof may find application in urban communication.