Wireless Design Research Articles

Development of an Affordable FPGA Board for Advancing Software-Defined Radio Research in Auchi Polytechnic

This paper detailed the design and development of an affordable software-defined radio (SDR) system tailored for academic environments at Auchi Polytechnic. The system integrated a moderately fast analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and an off-the-shelf field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for digital signal processing. The primary objective was to enhance the teaching of fundamental engineering concepts related to communications. To demonstrate its capabilities, the system included hardware blocks for demodulating amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) signals. This approach provided a cost-effective solution for advancing SDR research and education. The SDR paradigm, which replaces traditional hardware configurations with flexible software-based solutions, has revolutionized communication receivers. Incorporating SDR into undergraduate curricula has become increasingly valuable, offering students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies and skills relevant in both academic and industrial settings. While commercial SDR solutions such as the RTL-SDR dongle offer an accessible introduction to SDR concepts, they often fall short in providing a deep understanding of the underlying principles and design intricacies. To address this educational gap, the developed SDR platform aimed to offer practical experience and delve into the fundamental principles of SDR design, leveraging advancements in digital technologies like FPGAs and ADCs to create a cost-effective, educational SDR system.

The system design of high-throughput miniature software-defined radio as a Ka/K-band communication payload for CubeSats

Ka-Band communication payloads, enabling high-rate data transmission, typically require higher power consumption, are mostly more suitable for larger satellites. This research focuses on the design of a miniature software-defined radio (MSDR) specifically tailored for Ka-band communication onboard CubeSats. The communication system aligns with the DVB-S2 standard for high transmission capacities, and incorporates the linear-step frequency modulation (LSFM) for robust transmission. Additionally, the modular software design can be easily adopted for future missions. The proposed Xilinx MPSoC-based SDR opens possibilities of broadband communication for CubeSat constellations in low Earth orbits (LEOs).

Overview of Memristor-Based Design for Analog Applications.

Memristor-based design has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to revolutionize various fields such as artificial intelligence, neuromorphic computing, non-volatile memory, signal processing, filtering, and radio frequency design. These emerging devices offer unique advantages such as non-volatile memory, low power consumption, and a high integration density. Their scalability and compatibility with existing fabrication processes make them an attractive option for industry adoption, paving the way for faster and more efficient architecture design. Researchers are actively exploring ways to optimize memristor technology for practical applications to harness its full potential. This includes developing novel materials and structures as well as improving the reliability and performance of memristors in various applications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in memristor technology and their potential impact on the design of future electronic systems, focusing on its applications in the analog domain. By exploring the latest research and development in this field, researchers can gain valuable insights into how analog memristors can be integrated into their designs to achieve enhanced performance and efficiency. The paper delves into the fundamental principles of memristor technology, exploring its unique characteristics and advantages over traditional electronic components. It discusses the potential impact of memristors and challenges in the analog field of electronics, and highlights the progress made in their integration with existing circuitry, enabling novel functionalities and improved performance. Furthermore, it highlights ongoing research efforts to improve the performance and reliability of memristors, as well as the potential limitations and challenges that need to be addressed for widespread adoption, including variability in performance and reliability.

Design of A Chaos-based Digital Radio over Fiber Transmission Link using ASK Modulation for Wireless Communication Systems

Secured broadband radio communications are becoming increasingly pivotal for high-speed connectivity in radio access networks, playing a crucial role in both mobile information systems and wireless IoT connections. This paper introduces a chaos-based two-channel digital radio communication system utilizing fiber optic radio transmission technology. The system comprises two radio channels operating at up to 1 Gbps using amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation, followed by modulation with a chaotic sequence before conversion to the optical domain using the MZM modulator. To compensate for fiber loss, the system utilizes an Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) and employs the optical links through standard ITU-G.655 optical fibers. Numerical simulation of the designed system is performed using the commercialized simulation software Optisystem V.15 to assess and characterize transmission performance. The results demonstrate the system’s effective operation on two channels with a fiber transmission distance of up to 110 km, maintaining a bit error ratio of less than 10−9. This feature ensures reliable performance for high-speed radio connections, particularly in applications such as fronthaul networks in cloud radio access and wireless sensor network connections.

Design and Integration of Low Power RFID Wake-Up Radio for the Activation of Sensing Nodes in Industrial Plants

Design and Integration of Low Power RFID Wake-Up Radio for the Activation of Sensing Nodes in Industrial Plants

Towards Programmable Backscatter Radio Design for Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

Towards Programmable Backscatter Radio Design for Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

An easy-to-produce HIS-based MIMO radio altimeter antenna design for aircraft

Purpose The purpose of this study is to design a radio altimeter antenna whose production process is facilitated and can work with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) properties to provide space gain on the aircraft. Design/methodology/approach To create an easy-to-produce MIMO, a two-storied structure consisting of a reflector and a top antenna was designed. The dimensions of the reflector were prevented to get smaller to supply easy production. The unit cell nearly with the same dimensions of a lower frequency was protected through the original cell design. The co-planar structure with the use of a via connection was modified and a structure was achieved with no need to via for easy production, too. Finally, the antennas were placed side by side and the distance between them was optimized to achieve a MIMO operation. Findings As a result, an easy-to-produce, compact and successful radio altimeter antenna was obtained with high antenna parameters such as 10.14 dBi gain and 10.55 dBi directivity, and the conical pattern along with proper MIMO features, through original reflector surface and top antenna system. Originality/value Since radio altimeter antennas require high radiation properties, the microstrip antenna structure is generally used in literature. This paper contributes by presenting the radio altimeter application with antenna-reflective structure participation. The technical solutions were developed during the design, focusing on an easy manufacturing process for both the reflective surface and the upper antenna. Also, the combination of International Telecommunication Union’s recommended features that require high antenna properties was achieved, which is challenging to reach. In addition, by operating the antenna as a successful MIMO, two goals of easy production and space gain on aircraft have been attained at the same time.

The Completely Hackable Amateur Radio Telescope (CHART) project

We present the Completely Hackable Amateur Radio Telescope (CHART), a project that provides hands-on radio instrumentation and design experience to undergraduates while bringing accessible radio astronomy experiments to high school students and teachers. Here we describe a system which can detect 21 cm emission from the Milky Way which is optimised for cost and simplicity of construction. Software, documentation, and tutorials are all completely open source to improve the user experience and facilitate community involvement. We demonstrate the design with several observations which we compare with state-of-the-art surveys. The system is shown to detect galactic 21 cm emission in both rural and urban settings.

Exploring Design Optimisation Techniques of a Radio Telescope Using Fixed Costing Constraints

Cost optimization is a common problem encountered in the design of telescopes. This paper comprehensively discusses various radio telescope designs worldwide, focusing on their design and utilities. It contextualizes the Pulsar data challenge and subsequently discusses and develops a mathematical model for designing radio telescopes. The model assumes a fixed-cost budget. This paper expands current ideas of modeling the system using figure-of-merit equations and optimizing them based on a fixed budget to obtain optimal and affordable radio telescope designs.

Radio Link Model for Node Deployment in Underground Mine Sensor Networks

This paper presents an experimental characterization of the proposed radio link model for an underground mine sensor network. Power efficiency and range are critical factors to consider when designing a wireless sensor network, particularly for low data rate applications where the goal is to have a long-lasting, low-maintenance network. A ‘deploy and forget’ strategy is desirable because it allows the network to operate autonomously without requiring frequent maintenance or intervention from network operators. DASH7 and IEEE 802.15.4f are both excellent choices for low-power, long-range wireless sensor networking applications. The proposed radio link model was developed and evaluated for 433 MHz DASH7 in underground mines, considering the practical electromagnetic properties of mine walls and the propagation medium, which helps in calculating accurate signal characteristics. Radio wave propagation is a critical factor that needs to be considered when designing a wireless sensor network for complex mine structures. The received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and packet error rate (PER) are two key parameters that are used to measure wave propagation and assess the quality of the radio link between sensor nodes. The radio link design has been optimized for complex mine structures by utilizing these parameters in a model, leading to improved performance and reliability. The measurements were carried out in the world’s second largest salt mine at Khewra, Pakistan, with representative irregular mine structures. The RSSI and PER were measured at different node positions and with variable separation between the nodes. The proposed model allows for the easy placement of nodes on either the rooftop or near the side walls of the mine corridors, with an average variation of 6% in RSSI and 1.9% in PER. The proposed model was validated using off-the-shelf wizzi sensor nodes received from Wizzi Lab, France, and was programmed to measure RSSI and PER while operating under the 433 MHz DASH7 protocol. An agreement between modeled and measured parameters has been noted, making the proposed model a decent method for efficient node deployment in underground mine sensor networks.

Open-access millimeter-wave software-defined radios in the PAWR COSMOS testbed: Design, deployment, and experimentation

While millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless has recently gained tremendous attention with the transition to 5G, developing a broadly accessible experimental infrastructure will largely facilitate the research and allow the community to make significant progress in this area. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of various programmable and open-access mmWave software-defined radios (SDRs) that have been deployed in the PAWR COSMOS advanced wireless testbed, in both indoor and outdoor environments. These programmable mmWave radios are based on the IBM 28GHz 64-element dual-polarized phased array antenna module (PAAM) subsystem board and the Sivers IMA 60GHz WiGig transceiver. These front ends are integrated with USRP SDRs or Xilinx RFSoC boards, which provide baseband signal processing capabilities. Moreover, we present measurements of the TX/RX beamforming performance and example experiments (e.g., real-time channel sounding and RFNoC-based 802.11ad preamble detection), using the mmWave radios. Finally, we discuss ongoing enhancement and development efforts focusing on these radios.

English

Wireless communication has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its mobility, portability and efficient service. Quality Voice Communication is the basic need of all such devices. Due to the significant spectrum demand, the bandwidth allocated to Professional Radio devices is decreasing. This results in lowering voice/ speech quality. Due to limited bandwidth, the design of Radio is changing. The main change is shifting from Analogue signal processing to Digital signal processing of speech and radio signals. The conversion of analogue-natured speech to digital form itself creates loss and faithfulness. Such Radio includes a voice coder for analogue to digital conversion of speech. Human spoken language, speaker (male or female), and pronunciation play an essential role in direct voice and Radio communication. It is the primary object which decides the design of low bandwidth coder. This paper deals with Marathi language characteristics and the interdependence of language constructs that affects voice/speech quality. In this paper, we extracted features of the Marathi language using PRAAT software and analyzed its constructs using statistical tools. The actual testing on Radio is carried out. The speech quality observed during such testing is correlated with statistical results. It is shown that the standard deviation in pitch and formants in male speech is less (average 35%) compared to the standard deviation in pitch and formants in female speech. This results in lowering the quality of male speech compared to female speech. It is also shown that some vowels and combinations of certain vowels and consonants produce poor speech quality compared to others.

Direction of Arrival Method for L-Shaped Array with RF Switch: An Embedded Implementation Perspective

This paper addresses the challenge of implementing Direction of Arrival (DOA) methods for indoor localization using Internet of Things (IoT) devices, particularly with the recent direction-finding capability of Bluetooth. DOA methods are complex numerical methods that require significant computational resources and can quickly deplete the batteries of small embedded systems typically found in IoT networks. To address this challenge, the paper presents a novel Unitary R-D Root MUSIC for L-shaped arrays that is tailor-made for such devices utilizing a switching protocol defined by Bluetooth. The solution exploits the radio communication system design to speed up execution, and its root-finding method circumvents complex arithmetic despite being used for complex polynomials. The paper carries out experiments on energy consumption, memory footprint, accuracy, and execution time in a commercial constrained embedded IoT device series without operating systems and software layers to prove the viability of the implemented solution. The results demonstrate that the solution achieves good accuracy and attains an execution time of a few milliseconds, making it a viable solution for DOA implementation in IoT devices.

An inset-fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna with multiple slits for sub 6GHz – 5G applications

This paper presents an inset feed Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna with Multiple slits for sub 6 GHz - 5G Applications. This antenna is proposed with the development, design, running simulations and finally a conclusion of the analysis. The antenna in this paper is implemented using a technique called “inset-feed” and multiple slits. The dielectric used as a substrate is FR-4. The proposed antenna is useful for a sub 6 GHz 5G band, which comes under the 5G band of frequency. The proposed and designed antenna gives the input match of -10.74 dB, and 5.99 dB gain at the design frequency of 5.045 GHz. These outputs are usable for the 5G applications. The antenna is simulated and developed in a radio technology design software Sonnet.

INTELLIGENT RADIO INTERFACE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The peculiarities of the implementation of the 6G intelligent radio interface infrastructure, which will use an individual configuration for each individual subscriber application and flexible services with lower overhead costs, have been studied. A personalized infrastructure consisting of an AI-enabled intelligent physical layer, an intelligent MAC controller, and an intelligent protocol is considered, followed by a potentially novel AI-based end-to-end (E2E) device. The intelligent controller is investigated, in particular the intelligent functions at the MAC level, which may become key components of the intelligent controller in the future. The joint optimization of these components, which will provide better system performance, is considered. It was determined that instead of using a complex mathematical method of optimization, it is possible to use machine learning, which has less complexity and can adapt to network conditions. A 6G radio interface design based on a combination of model-driven and data-driven artificial intelligence is investigated and is expected to provide customized radio interface optimization from pre-configuration to self-learning. The specifics of configuring the network scheme and transmission parameters at the level of subscriber equipment and services using a personalized radio interface to maximize the individual user experience without compromising the throughput of the system as a whole are determined. Artificial intelligence is considered, which will be a built-in function of the radio interface that creates an intelligent physical layer and is responsible for MAC access control, network management optimization (such as load balancing and power saving), replacing some non-linear or non-convex algorithms in receiver modules or compensation of shortcomings in non-linear models. Built-in intelligence has been studied, which will make the 6G physical layer more advanced and efficient, facilitate the optimization of structural elements of the physical layer and procedural design, including the possible change of the receiver architecture, will help implement new detection and positioning capabilities, which, in turn, will significantly affect the design of radio interface components. The requirements for the 6G network are defined, which provide for the creation of a single network with scanning and communication functions, which must be integrated into a single structure at the stage of radio interface design. The specifics of carefully designing a communication and scanning network that will offer full scanning capabilities and more fully meet all key performance indicators in the communications industry are explored.

Active manipulation of radiated fields by a magnetoplasmonic half-wave dipole nanoantenna.

We demonstrate a concept for the active manipulation of radiated fields by a magnetoplasmonic half-wave dipole nanoantenna. Our idea comprises a two arms nanoantenna, made of metallic ferromagnetic cobalt-silver alloy (Co6Ag94), inspired by the analogous radio frequency half-wave dipole antenna design. Numerical results, obtained under the magnetization saturation condition, indicate a tilting of the radiated beam depending on the magnitude and sense of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic material. Significantly, we obtained tilting angles as large as ±9.7∘ around the y axis for the magnetization placed along the x or z axes, respectively. Results in this work not only open up a new, to the best of our knowledge, way to dynamically manipulate the beam steering at the chip-scale, but also contribute to unveil novel magneto-optical effects at the nanoscale.

Implementation of encoder and decoder for low-density parity-check codes in continuous-variable quantum key distribution on a field programmable gate array

Quantum key distribution (QKD) can provide an unconditionally secure communication encryption method. Continuous-variable QKD (CVQKD) requires extracting the key from the noisy channel, leading to higher requirements for the error-correcting codes used in multidimensional reconciliation. We extend the quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check of the radio design for the global 5G mobile communication technology standard to achieve error correction under lower signal-to-noise ratio on integrated hardware. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip is used to realize the approximate lower triangular matrix encoding algorithm, and the core module only has the circular shift register, which reduces the encoding complexity, improves the encoding efficiency, and reduces the hardware resource consumption. For extended super-long code words, the decoding algorithm requires additional hardware resources to implement, which the previous algorithm cannot meet. Therefore, we present a hardware implementation of offset minimum sum algorithm (OMSA), which can avoid operations of complex mathematical formula. The offset factor of OMSA reduce the error caused by the low accuracy of calculation on the hardware. The update of the decoding information is layered in a partially parallel way in the matrix to achieve the cross processing of node information. It speeds up the transmission of information between different nodes and the convergence of decoding algorithm of low-complexity parallel structure. Simulation results show that the maximum theoretical coordination efficiency is 85% when the code with block length is 69632 at a bit rate of 22/68 and the signal-to-noise ratio asymptotic threshold is 0.7. Using an FPGA, ∼0.1 frame error rate was achieved, but with a zero-bit error rate, the optimal achievable secret key rate is about 200 Kbps at 30-km distance theoretically. For a 200-MHz system clock on the successfully decoded block, 125 Gbps encoding throughput and 472 Kbps decoding throughput was achieved, better than the theoretical key rate of prototype of CVQKD.

Carrier Frequency Offset Estimation in 5G NR: Introducing Gradient Boosting Machines

The Beyond fifth Generation (B5G) communication systems imposed several challenges on radio designers. For example, a machine is required to set up a call at a low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), as low as -10 dB, in the extended coverage mode. Moreover, only one receive antenna will be available, and virtually no frequency diversity. Such requirements present major challenges to maintaining timing and frequency synchronization. Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) estimation is at the heart of these challenges. Different ways have been proposed for CFO estimation such as maximum likelihood based on a cyclic prefix. Nevertheless, these methods remain limited in various ways. At the same time, Machine Learning (ML) techniques showed outstanding performance in several wireless communication problems. In this work, we propose an ML-based approach for CFO estimation in OFDM systems. Specifically, we propose a Gradient-Boosting Machine (GBM)-based solution to predict the CFO given the received Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS). Furthermore, we make our dataset available for public access to encourage other researchers to pursue this promising direction. We compare our results with different baseline models (i.e., artificial neural networks and support vector machines). The experimental results show that our model outperforms other baseline models due to its ensemble nature which enables ensemble models to obtain a better generalization behavior.

Design and Analysis of Impulse Radio (IR) Based UWB Transmitter with Antenna

The use of ultra-wideband (UWB) in target detection, radar and wireless connectivity, specifically in the medical world, has attracted a lot of attention. The concept that the IR-UWB system does not necessarily require carrier signals is one of its most appealing features. IR-UWB can transmit information using short Gaussian monocycle pulses. In light of these advantages, this paper proposes a novel UWB transmitter system which consists of UWB signal generating circuits and UWB antenna, which work together to create entire UWB transmitter. It is based on impulses and has a simple architecture with low power consumption. The proposed transmitter is realized in Cadence tools with 90nm CMOS technology and proposed UWB antenna is simulated using Advanced Design System (ADS) simulator software. In addition, the transmitter circuit and the antenna are co-simulated using ADS software. The illustrated UWB transmitter uses a low-power supply and generates pulse amplitude with pulse duration of for the Gaussian monocycle pulse. Due to its increased output voltage swing and reduced power consumption when comparing to other circuits, the proposed architecture is functional and suitable for use in short-range wireless networks and medical applications.

Evaluation of Energy Detection-Based Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio Applications

In this paper, a novel design of cognitive radio (CR) system based on a tunable ultra wide-band antenna is suggested; it offers a quick and cheap method for effectively locating spectrum gaps spanning. The frequency ranges of 9.30 to 13 GHz with three operating bandwidths (BW) of 1.11GHz ,0.8 GHz, and 0.36GHz. Frequency is scanned by using a tunable Ultra-Wideband, the antenna has a small size with five gaps that are used as a Switch 2 mm × 3 mm and the partial ground 30 mm × 30 mm, these Switches can offer a tuning capability. The suggested antenna is constructed on a Rogers RT5880 substrate with a relative permittivity (εr) =2.2 and a dielectric thickness of 1.575 mm. This design of antenna has a number of benefits, including small size, low cost, easy to fabricate, and band accessibility that is elastic, the ground and patch antenna are fabricated on copper. At 10 GHz, an overall realized gain of 8.65dBi is achieved. The low VSWR < 2 antenna presented has a suitable radiation characteristic to gratify the needs of existing and future wireless communication systems. Return loss simulation findings for different switch states and radiation patterns at different frequencies are also shown, at the end both simulation and measurements are presented.