GWEn -- An Open-Source Wireless Physical-Layer Evaluation Platform

TL;DR

GWEn presents a gimbal-based, open-source wireless evaluation platform that is portable, affordable (~€300), and easily manufacturable using 3D-printed PLA and off-the-shelf parts. It provides a complete software stack (web interface, Python measurement tools, and a C/C++ controller) and an automated workflow for measuring antenna radiation and PHY performance with minimal RF interference. The platform is demonstrated through reproducible UWB experiments and extended to mmWave and acoustic communication use cases, highlighting its versatility for real-world, automated testing. By enabling global replication and adaptation, GWEn lowers barriers for researchers to perform standardized, repeatable wireless measurements outside of specialized facilities.

Abstract

Wireless physical layer assessment, such as measuring antenna radiation patterns, is complex and cost-intensive. Researchers often require a stationary setup with antennas surrounding the device under test. There remains a need for more cost-effective and open-source platforms that facilitate such research, particularly in automated testing contexts. This paper introduces the Gimbal-based platform for Wireless Evaluation (GWEn), a lightweight multi-axis positioner designed to portably evaluate wireless systems in real-world scenarios with minimal RF interference. We present an evaluation workflow that utilizes GWEn and show how it supports different types of wireless devices and communication systems, including Ultra-wideband, mmWave, and acoustic communication. GWEn is open-source, combining 3D-printed components with off-the-shelf parts, thus allowing researchers globally to replicate, utilize, and adapt the system according to their specific needs.

Figures (6)

• Figure 1: 3D rendering of an assembled build of our GWEn testbed, highlighting the two rotation axes in red. It can rotate around both axes independently for a full 360° each. The DuT (a smartphone) is placed with its antenna in the center point where both axes meet.
• Figure 2: A photo of GWEn with a smartphone mounted.
• Figure 3: A render of GWEN's Base containing power supply, a Raspberry Pi, the motor, and stepper drivers.
• Figure 4: Exemplary test setup for evaluating the tower's influence on gwen. One UWB transceiver is placed at the same location once with direct los and once with nlos with the tower in between.
• Figure 5: The first plot (a) is a comparison of three 360° ($\theta$) measurements made directly one after the other without changing the setup. The second plot (b) is a comparison of two 360° ($\theta$) measurements made one week apart. Arm rotation fixed at $\phi=90°$. The dotted line shows the actual distance (50cm).