Continuous-time system identification is an important subject with applications within many fields. Many physical processes are continuous in time. Therefore, when identifying a continuous-time model, we can use our insight into the system to decide the system structure and have a direct interpretation of the parameters. Furthermore, in systems such as network control systems and sensor networks, there is a common feature that the output data is quantized meaning we can only represent our data with a limited amount of distinct values. When performing continuous-time system identification of a system with quantized output data, we have errors from process and measurement noise and also a quantization error. This will make it more difficult to estimate the system parameters. This thesis aims to evaluate if it is possible to obtain accurate estimates of continuous-time systems with quantized output data using the indirect inference method. Indirect Inference is a simulation-based method that first estimates a misspecified auxiliary model to the observed data and in the second step, the parameters of the true system are estimated by simulations. Experiments are done both on one linear and two non-linear Hammerstein systems with quantized output data. The indirect inference estimator is shown to have the means to yield accurate estimates on both linear systems as well as non-linear Hammerstein systems with quantized output. The method performs better than the simplified refined instrumental variable method for continuous-time systems (SRIVC), which is commonly used for system identification of continuous-time systems, on a linear system. Furthermore, it performed significantly better compared to the Hammerstein Simplified Refined Instrumental Variable method for continuous-time systems (HSRIVC) for one of the non-linear systems and slightly better for the second one. The downside is that indirect inference is computationally expensive and time-consuming, hence not a good choice when computation time is a critical factor / Identifiering av Tidskontinuerlig system är ett viktigt ämne med användningsområde inom många områden. De flesta fysiska processer är tidskontinuerliga och när vi identifierar tidskontinuerliga modeller av dessa system kan vi använda vår insikt av systemet för att bestämma systemstrukturen och även direkt tolka dessa parametrar. I nätverkssystem och sensor-nätverk är det vanligt att vår utdata är kvantiserad, därav kan vi endast representera vår data med ett begränsat antal distinka värden. När vi identifierar tidskontinuerliga system med kvantiserad utdata, har vi därför både fel som ett resultat av process och mätbrus ovh ett kvantiseringsfel. Detta gör det svårare att identifiera parametrarna av systemet. I detta projekt var målet att utvärdera om det är möjligt att erhålla bra estimat för ett tidskontinuerligt system med kvantiserad utdata genom att använda metoden indrect inference. Indirect inference är en simuleringsbaserad metod som först estimerar en misspecificerad model från det observerade datat och i nästa steg, estimerar paramtrarna av det sanna systemet via simulering. Experiment utfördes både på ett linjärt och två olinära Hammerstein system med kvantiserad utdata. Indirect inference metoden visas ha potential att genere bra estimat på både linjära och icke-linära Hammerstein system med kvantiserad utdata. Metoden presterar bättre än SimplifiedRefined Instrumental Variable Method for continuous-time systems (SRIVC) på det linjära systemet och även mycket bättre än Hammerstein Simplified Refined InstrumentalVariable method for continuous-time systems (HSRIVC) för ett av det olinjära systemen och lite bättre för det andra. En nackdel med indirect inference är att det är beräkningstungt och att det tar lång tid att generera estimaten. Därav är denna metod inte att rekomendera när tid är en kritisk faktor.

Modeling of nonlinear systems based on special Hammerstein forms has been considered. In Hammerstein system modeling a static nonlinearity is connected to a dynamic linearity in cascade form. Fundamental contributions of this work are: 1) Introduction of Bezier curve nonlinearity representations / 2) Introduction of B-Spline curve nonlinearity representations instead of polynomials in cascade modeling. As a result, local control in nonlinear system modeling is achieved. Thus, unexpected variations of the output can be modeled more closely. As an important demonstration case, a model is developed and named as Middle East Technical University Neural Networks and Cascade Model (METU-NN-C). Application examples are chosen by considering the Near-Earth space processes, which are important for navigation, telecommunication and many other technical applications. It is demonstrated that the models developed based on the contributions of this work are especially more accurate under disturbed conditions, which are quantified by considering Space Weather parameters. Examples include forecasting of Total Electron Content (TEC), and mapping / estimation of joint angle of simple forced pendulum / estimation of joint angles of spring loaded inverted double pendulum with forced table / identification of Van der Pol oscillator / and identification of speakers. The operation performance results of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001), METU Neural Networks (METU-NN) and METU-NN-C models are compared qualitatively and quantitatively. As a numerical example, in forecasting the TEC by using the METU-NN-C having Bezier curves in nonlinearity representation, the average absolute error is 1.11 TECu. The new cascade models are shown to be promising for system designers and operators.

The objective of this research work is to investigate, design and measurement of a digital predistortion linearizer that is able to compensate the dynamic nonlinear distortion of a High Power Amplifier (PA). The effectiveness of the proposed baseband predistorter (PD) on the performance of a WLAN OFDM transmitter utilizing a nonlinear PA with memory effect is observed and discussed. For this purpose, a 10W Class-A/B power amplifier with a gain of 22 dB, operated over the 3.5 GHz frequency band was designed and implemented. The proposed baseband PD is independent of the operating RF frequency and can be used in multiband applications. Its operation is based on the Hammerstein system, taking into account PA memory effect compensation, and demonstrates a noticeable improvement compared to memoryless predistorters. Different types of modelling procedures and linearizers were introduced and investigated, in which accurate behavioural models of Radio Frequency (RF) PAs exhibiting linear and nonlinear memory effects were presented and considered, based on the Wiener approach employing a linear parametric estimation technique. Three new linear methods of parameter estimation were investigated, with the aim of reducing the complexity of the required filtering process in linear memory compensation. Moreover, an improved wiener model is represented to include the nonlinear memory effect in the system. The validity of the PA modelling approaches and predistortion techniques for compensation of nonlinearities of a PA were verified by several tests and measurements. The approaches presented, based on the Wiener system, have the capacity to deal with the existing trade-off between accuracy and convergence speed compared to more computationally complex behavioural modelling algorithms considering memory effects, such as those based on Volterra series and Neural Networks. In addition, nonlinear and linear crosstalks introduced by the power amplifier nonlinear behaviour and antennas mutual coupling due to the compact size of a MIMO OFDM transmitter have been investigated.

The objective of this research work is to investigate, design and measurement of a digital predistortion linearizer that is able to compensate the dynamic nonlinear distortion of a High Power Amplifier (PA). The effectiveness of the proposed baseband predistorter (PD) on the performance of a WLAN OFDM transmitter utilizing a nonlinear PA with memory effect is observed and discussed. For this purpose, a 10W Class-A/B power amplifier with a gain of 22 dB, operated over the 3.5 GHz frequency band was designed and implemented. The proposed baseband PD is independent of the operating RF frequency and can be used in multiband applications. Its operation is based on the Hammerstein system, taking into account PA memory effect compensation, and demonstrates a noticeable improvement compared to memoryless predistorters. Different types of modelling procedures and linearizers were introduced and investigated, in which accurate behavioural models of Radio Frequency (RF) PAs exhibiting linear and nonlinear memory effects were presented and considered, based on the Wiener approach employing a linear parametric estimation technique. Three new linear methods of parameter estimation were investigated, with the aim of reducing the complexity of the required filtering process in linear memory compensation. Moreover, an improved wiener model is represented to include the nonlinear memory effect in the system. The validity of the PA modelling approaches and predistortion techniques for compensation of nonlinearities of a PA were verified by several tests and measurements. The approaches presented, based on the Wiener system, have the capacity to deal with the existing trade-off between accuracy and convergence speed compared to more computationally complex behavioural modelling algorithms considering memory effects, such as those based on Volterra series and Neural Networks. In addition, nonlinear and linear crosstalks introduced by the power amplifier nonlinear behaviour and antennas mutual coupling due to the compact size of a MIMO OFDM transmitter have been investigated.

This research work has made an effort to understand a novel line of radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs) that address initiatives for efficiency enhancement and linearity compensation to harmonize the fifth generation (5G) campaign. The objective is to enhance the performance of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-long term evolution (OFDM-LTE) transmitter by reducing the nonlinear distortion of the RFPA. The first part of this work explores the design and implementation of 15.5 W class AB RF power amplifier, adopting a balanced technique to stimulate efficiency enhancement and redeeming exhibition of excessive power in the transmitter. Consequently, this work goes beyond improving efficiency over a linear RF power amplifier design; in which a comprehensive investigation on the fundamental and harmonic components of class F RF power amplifier using a load-pull approach to realise an optimum load impedance and the matching network is presented. The frequency bandwidth for both amplifiers was allocated to operate in the 2.620-2.690 GHz of mobile LTE applications. The second part explores the development of the behavioural model for the class AB power amplifier. A particular novel, Hammerstein-Wiener based model is proposed to describe the dynamic nonlinear behaviour of the power amplifier. The RF power amplifier nonlinear distortion is approximated using a new linear parameter approximation approach. The first and second-order Hammerstein-Wiener using the Normalised Least Mean Square Error (NLMSE) algorithm is used with the aim of easing the complexity of filtering process during linear memory cancellation. Moreover, an enhanced adaptive Wiener model is proposed to explore the nonlinear memory effect in the system. The proposed approach is able to balance between convergence speed and high-level accuracy when compared with behavioural modelling algorithms that are more complex in computation. Finally, the adaptive predistorter technique is implemented and verified in the OFDM transceiver test-bed. The results were compared against the computed one from MATLAB simulation for OFDM and 5G modulation transmitters. The results have confirmed the reliability of the model and the effectiveness of the proposed predistorter. / Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, under European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme ... grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN- 2016 SECRET-722424 I also acknowledge the role of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Sokoto State Government Petroleum Technology Trust Fund (PTDF)