Faculty ProjectsModernization and Expansion of the Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory
Project Manager
Igor Kadota, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Amount Requested
$24,000
Summary
Communications (e.g., 5G, WiFi, and Satellite Internet) is a topic of increasing strategic importance for it is a key enabler of future applications such as Smart Cities, Industry 4.0, and Swarm Robotics. This connection with multiple disciplines makes courses on Communications relevant not only for McCormick undergraduate students in ECE and CS, but also to students in CEE, IEMS, ME, and other departments. The faculty from the Communications and Networking Laboratory recently met to restructure the sequence of Communications courses. A main result was the development of a completely new syllabus for ELEC_ENG_307. The previous syllabus focused on traditional analog communications (i.e., AM and FM) and had a laboratory with two assignments in which students used Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) to implement a simple AM system. The handful of SDRs in the laboratory were acquired more than a decade ago and are now End-of-Life. The revised syllabus emphasizes modern digital communications and is tailored to students from diverse backgrounds (with or without prior exposure to Communications). The planned laboratory (named Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory) includes four completely new assignments that will allow McCormick undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience with radio softwarization, digital transmitter/receiver architectures, and the unreliability of the wireless communication channel. The funds from the Walter P. Murphy Society will enable us to acquire the state-of-the-art teaching SDRs needed for the modernization and expansion of the Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory. I will teach ELEC_ENG_307 in Fall 2023 and I have started creating the material for the new lectures. If funded, I plan to acquire the teaching SDRs right away and start creating the four new laboratory assignments. In addition to enhancing the undergraduate experience of ELEC_ENG_307 students, the SDRs could also be used in laboratories and/or class demonstrations in COMP_SCI_340, COMP_SCI_397, ELEC_ENG-222, ELEC_ENG_333, and ELEC_ENG_380.
Planned Activities/Investments
Once funded, we plan to:
- Acquire eight USRP-2901Software-Defined Radios (SDRs)
- Configure the existing PCs in the teaching laboratory to interface with the SDRs
- Create at least four (completely new) assignments for the laboratory component of ELEC_ENG 307 covering topics such as radio softwarization, uni/bidimensional modulation schemes, digital transmitter/receiver architecture, and impairments caused by the wireless channel
- Leverage feedback on the assignments to further enhance the undergraduate learning experience
Impact
The funds from the Walter P. Murphy Society will enable us to acquire the state-of-the-art teaching SDRs needed for the Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory. This laboratory will allow McCormick undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience with modern digital communications. Students with SDR experience will have a better chance of finding a job in the telecommunications industry. We will leverage student feedback on the laboratory assignments to evaluate and further enhance the undergraduate learning experience. In addition, the SDRs will not only benefit ELEC_ENG 307 students, but they can also be used in laboratories and/or class demonstrations in courses such as COMP_SCI 340, COMP_SCI 397, ELEC_ENG 222, ELEC_ENG 333, and ELEC_ENG 380. We will advertise the acquisition of SDRs to the McCormick community, facilitate its utilization in other courses, and document these efforts.
Sustainability
The Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory is (to a great extent) self-sustained. If stored and operated appropriately, the life span of SDRs is long. I will include detailed instructions on safe and appropriate operation of SDRs in the first laboratory assignment with reminders in every assignment. The SDRs will be stored in a locker in the teaching laboratory. I expect the Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory to remain fully-functional for at least a decade.
Deliverables
The main deliverables for the project are:
- Four completely new laboratory assignments for ELEC_ENG 307
- Four student stations, each composed of one PC (from the teaching laboratory) controlling two SDRs, one SDR for data transmission and the other SDR for reception
- Student laboratory reports with feedback
Previous Projects
I did not receive Murphy Society funding last year.
Budget Overview
The budget is from the National Instruments website.
- $21,456.00 NI USRP-2901 Software-Defined Radio: Unit Price: 2,682.00. Quantity: 8.
- $1,184.00VERT2450 antenna: Unit Price: 74.00. Quantity: 16.
- $1,360 Incidental Expenses.
Total: $24,000
Matching Funds
If funded, the ECE department agrees to contribute additional funds (~ USD 7,500.00) to purchase 4 additional SDRs (NI USPR 2900) and other supplies which will be needed to fully modernize the Programmable Radio Teaching Laboratory.