CNS Core: Small: Directional Software-Defined Radio

随着我们周围的环境越来越紧密地联系在一起，物联网（IoT）正在成为现实。国际电信联盟预测，到2030年，无线总需求将比2020年增长100倍。民用生活中物联网设备的密度不断增加，对无线电频率（也称为频谱）的使用提出了更严格的效率要求。无线社区通过解决向各个方向传播的全向无线电的干扰挑战，取得了出色的频谱效率创新。然而，这些创新是否足以满足未来无线需求的成本效益和安全解决方案是值得怀疑的。定向无线电作为一种很有前途的解决方案，通过在特定方向上传输，提供高速无线接入，以及更低的能量消耗和被入侵者拦截的可能性的无线传输。然而，无线电定向在机动性和天线尺寸的容忍度方面有缺点；并且要求发射器和接收器彼此面对，即视距（LOS）对齐，以及更大的天线尺寸。该项目采用软件定义无线电（SDR），即在软件中实现的无线电组件，可实现动态可编程性，以处理定向收发器的移动性和LOS对准方面的挑战，并获得实用的天线尺寸。该项目迈出了使收发器的方向性成为SDR平台可编程元素的第一步。更广泛的影响包括对5g及以上愿景的技术贡献，未来智慧城市和互联社区所需的无线电基础设施，以及无线技术在民用生活中的进一步普及。该项目为UCF本科生和研究生提供研究机会，包括代表性不足的少数民族。智能的优点是使方向性成为主流的无线设计组件。该项目加强了更高频段的定向天线设计和角分集封装，推进了高定向链路的干扰和功率管理理论，为移动定向链路提供了节能、无缝的LOS检测和维护。特别是，该项目探索了定向SDR设计(1)引入具有波束转向能力的低成本反射天线，(2)利用圆形或球形角分集的低功耗定向收发器封装，(3)发现、建立和维护移动条件下需要定向和/或los的链路，(4)通过使用移动条件下的高定向链路执行软件定义波束形成。(5)采用快速启发式算法对频谱进行定向感知，实时优化定向通信链路参数。该项目重点关注60ghz及以上的新兴高频频段，探索在城市或室内环境中短距离操作的新方法和技术。总体目标是研究无线链路管理和优化机制，其中方向性是新的规范和主流设计参数。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Internet-of-things (IoT) is becoming a reality as our surroundings are getting evermore connected. The International Telecommunication Union is forecasting 100 times increase in the aggregate wireless demand by 2030 relative to 2020. The increasing density of IoT devices in civilian life imposes more stringent efficiency requirements on the use of radio frequencies, also called spectrum. The wireless community has made excellent spectrum efficiency innovations by solving interference challenges of omni-directional radios that propagate in every direction. However, it is questionable if these innovations alone will suffice as cost-effective and secure solutions for future wireless needs. As a promising solution, by transmitting in certain directions, directional radios offer high-speed wireless access, as well as wireless transmissions with lower energy consumption and probability of being intercepted by intruders. However, radio directionality has disadvantages in terms of tolerance to mobility and antenna size; and requires transmitter and receiver to be facing each other, a.k.a. line-of-sight (LOS) alignment, and larger antenna size. This project adapts Software-Defined Radio (SDR), i.e., radio components implemented in software that enable dynamic programmability, to handle the challenges in mobility and LOS alignment of directional transceivers, and to attain practical antenna sizes. The project takes the first steps in making directionality of transceivers a programmable element of SDR platforms. Broader impacts include technical contributions to the 5G-and-beyond vision, the radio infrastructure needed for future smart cities and connected communities, and further proliferation of wireless technology into civilian life. The project offers research opportunities to UCF undergraduate and graduate students, including under-represented minorities.The intellectual merit is making directionality a mainstream wireless design component. The project enhances directional antenna design and angular diversity packaging in the higher frequency spectrum bands, progresses the theory of interference and power management for highly directional links, and provides energy efficient and seamless LOS detection and maintenance of mobile directional links. In particular, the project explores Directional SDR designs that (1) introduce low-cost reflectarray antennas with beam-steering capability, (2) utilize low-power directional transceiver packages with angular diversity in circular or spherical shapes, (3) discover, establish, and maintain directional and/or LOS-requiring links under mobility, (4) perform software-defined beamforming by using highly directional links under mobility, and (5) employ fast heuristics to directionally sense the spectrum and optimize the directional communication link parameters on-the-fly. Focusing on the emerging high frequency bands at 60 GHz and above, the effort explores new methods and technologies for operation at short ranges representing an urban or indoor setting. The overarching goal is to investigate wireless link management and optimization regimes where directionality is the new norm and a mainstream design parameter.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.