MRI: Acquisition of Microwave and Wireless Communications Test and Measurement laboratory

University Of Hawaii, Honolulu

Investigators

Abstract

Acquisition of Microwave and Wireless Communications Test and Measurement Laboratory With this proposal we respectfully request the NSF approval for establishing a critically needed "Microwave and Wireless Communications Test and Measurement Laboratory" in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii. In an attempt to diversify the tourism-based economy in the State of Hawaii, and help better prepare a qualified workforce that will attract high tech companies to the State, the State recently established the Hawaii Center for Advanced Communications (HCAC) with the mission to do multidisciplinary research in broadband wireless communications and promote much needed ties with industry. The center has established several initiatives along these guidelines, and the proposed laboratory facility will be used to support several of these ongoing and growing number of activities. Specifically, it will help the faculty effectively work on our externally funded research projects, and also help attract industry-sponsored projects for the recently established Engineering Clinic Program for undergraduates. Examples of the ongoing research projects include: (a) development of low cost, high performance antenna arrays with beam steering capabilities; (b) propagation prediction modeling in urban wireless communications environments; (c) development of computational and power efficient iterative decoding techniques; (d) DSP algorithms for smart antennas, multiuser detection, and cooperative diversity; (e) retoradiative antenna arrays; and (f) RF and Quasi-Optical devices. Our faculty has published hundreds of papers in these areas and the proposed lab facility will help extend its capabilities and set the stage for its future multidisciplinary research directions. As for the Engineering Clinic program, it places teams (4-5 students per team) in projects proposed and sponsored by industry, and the College charges $25k per project. All raised funds go directly to support student activities including project expenses, scholarships for all participating students, and travel expenses for the final design reviews at the locations of the sponsoring companies. In 2002-2003, the College was able to attract seven projects from in and out of state companies. HCAC has also been approved to participate as a partner in the NSF Industry/University Collaborative Research Center (I/U CRC) at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, and the proposed lab facility will certainly help support this as well as the growing number of graduate and undergraduate courses being offered in the wireless communications area. In addition, the proposed lab facility will help in the implementation of the collaborative program between the College of Engineering and the College of Business Administration aimed at preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs in communications technology. Specific components of the proposed lab facility include: (a) a microwave network analysis lab (Agilent E8361A-Microwave Vector Network Analyzer and an Agilent E4448A spectrum analyzer); (b) an indoor antenna range (Agilent 8530A-Microwave receiver for antenna measurement); (c) a wireless communications test-bed (Agilent E4438C signal generator, Agilent 89610A vector signal analyzer, Spirent TSA 5600W universal interference emulator, and Spirent FLEX5/Q1 RF Ch. Emulator); and (d) for the undergraduate lab an additional two Agilent 8720 network analyzers (in addition to access to the equipment in the above listed research labs). Intellectual merits: With the phenomenal growth of wireless communications technology, and with the recognized and long-standing distinguished expertise in the communications technology area at the University of Hawaii (first to propose the ALOHA protocol for packet radio systems that subsequently strongly influenced the development of access Ethernet protocols), the proposed lab facility will help support several externally funded (NSF, ARO, DARPA, AFOSR, Raytheon, and TRW) research projects, help promote integrative research and multidisciplinary efforts that will lead to significant advances in developing next generation wireless communications technology. This laboratory facility will also help attract industrial sponsors in programs such as the Engineering Clinic for undergraduates, and support UH participation in the NSF I/U CRC program with other universities. Broader impact: With the recognition of this technology as one of the strategic high tech avenues for diversifying the Hawaii economy and better preparing the local workforce to help attract companies and grow the industrial base in the State, it is expected that the proposed lab will play a critical role in realizing the vision and achieving the mission of the recently established HCAC. It will also help attract industrial sponsors in programs such as the Engineering Clinic for undergraduates, and provide test and measurement capabilities for local industry and start-ups. The impact of this NSF equipment investment will reach far beyond the University and would certainly impact the entire State of Hawaiipreparation of its workforce, growth in its high tech base, and support for its local industry.