CAREER: Intelligent Portable Antenna Systems for High-Speed Wireless Communication

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

9983460 Bernhard Intelligent Portable Antenna Systems for High-Speed Wireless Communication: The wireless research and industrial communities agree that the capabilities of portable units will constrain future high-speed wireless system performance. In response to this challenge, Jennifer Bernhard's research will develop intelligent portable antenna systems to improve the reliability, throughput, and noise immunity of these networks. Specifically, this project will implement new compact radiation-tunable antenna with a performance-driven fuzzy controller on a portable unit. This novel approach views portable antennas as dynamic components of the communication system and will create an innovative paradigm for antenna design and control. A team-based research framework will require undergraduate and graduate students to cooperate to achieve common research goals. Dissemination of research results will be coupled with outreach activities to attract more women to electrical engineering. The education activities will focus on "active" teaching techniques for electromagnetics curricula that use real-world problems to develop students' teamwork, problem-solving, and technical communication skills. ***