Symmetrical Pulse Shape Optimization for Low-Complexity RedCap Devices in Industrial Multipath Channels

Wireless communications in industrial environments are challenged by severe multipath propagation, which causes significant signal distortion. Conventional mitigation techniques, such as complex equalizers, are unsuitable as they contradict the stringent low-power and low-complexity requirements of Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices. This paper introduces a novel method for optimizing single-carrier pulse shapes under a distortion constraint to combat multipath propagation. The performance was evaluated through simulations in MATLAB 2023b using a ray-traced warehouse model. The results show that the proposed optimal pulses achieve a significant reduction in Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) (up to 40% in non-line-of-sight scenarios) compared to conventional root-raised cosine (RRC) pulses, while adhering to the 20 MHz RedCap bandwidth requirement. Furthermore, this performance is attainable with a low-complexity scaling equalizer. EVM degradation under Doppler shift is estimated and the pilot period required to maintain the target distortion level is specified. The resulting bit rate of approximately 2.9 Mbps supports industrial sensor networks and low-definition video streaming, confirming the approach’s suitability for resource-constrained industrial applications.