A Cluster-Based 3D Channel Model for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

In order to model the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) channel, a cluster-based 3D channel model is proposed in this paper, which is based on measurements conducted at 5.9 GHz in urban and suburban scenarios. A 16-element dual-polarized cylindrical antenna array is used in the measurements. Then the Space-Alternating Generalized Expectation-maximization (SAGE) algorithm is applied to extract the multipath components (MPC) and the clustering and tracking algorithms are used to identify and track the MPC clusters. Based on the clustering results, this paper presents a cluster-based three-dimensional V2V channel model. In the model, we divide the MPC clusters into two categories: Global-Cluster and Scatterer-Cluster, in which Global-Cluster are brought by line-of-sight (LOS) propagation or ground reflection, and Scatterer-Cluster are brought by scatterers such as vehicles and buildings. The Global-Cluster is described by a series of global-cluster parameters, then several inter-cluster and intra-cluster parameters are used to describe the Scatterer-Cluster. The proposed model is useful for characterizing the three-dimensional V2V channels.