MRI-R2: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Development and Testing of Digital Beamforming Antennas

这项提案将使用2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供的资金授予，并符合2009年3月20日题为《确保负责任地使用复苏法案资金》的白宫备忘录第2节规定的要求。作为认知项目官员，我还确认，该提案不支持《复苏法案》A分部第1604节所述的项目。该仪器支持自适应数字波束形成天线和相关数字信号处理技术的研究和开发，以实现在自组织和网状网络中可靠的高速无线通信。该项目探索了智能、自适应天线与高带宽无线电系统的结合使用，以获得更大的覆盖范围，并抑制不需要的信号的潜在干扰。其目标是利用数字信号处理技术开发一种紧凑、低成本、重量轻、智能、自适应的天线系统，该系统可以很容易地与新的芯片级无线电技术相互作用。这项技术在远程传感器网络、固定和移动自组织网络、智能交通网络以及高速互联网接入和骨干网络中都有商业和政府应用。这些设施将成为模拟和数字通信设备和系统的测试、测量和表征的卓越中心，在落基山西部提供独特的研究和培训机会。该仪器为研究生、博士后、研究人员和本科生提供使用最先进的射频和数字测试设备和方法的设计和系统级培训。这一仪器进一步促进了结合射频设计、嵌入式系统、数字信号处理和电信的跨学科工作。这笔仪器助学金利用了REU和其他旨在鼓励美国原住民学生接受研究生教育的计划，提供了更多的教育机会。该仪器是继续开发射频设计、电信和嵌入式系统课程的基础，包括本科生和研究生课程。

This proposal will be awarded using funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and meets the requirements established in Section 2 of the White House Memorandum entitled, Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds, dated March 20, 2009. I also affirm, as the cognizant Program Officer, that the proposal does not support projects described in Section 1604 of Division A of the Recovery Act. "See Section I.B. above for additional information on implementation of ARRA Section 1604Intellectual MeritThis instrumentation supports research and development of adaptive digital beam forming antennas and related digital signal processing techniques to enable reliable high-speed wireless communications in ad hoc and mesh networks. This project explores the use of smart, adaptive antennas in conjunction with a high bandwidth radio system to yield improved range and also to suppress potential interference from unwanted signals. The goal is to develop a compact, low cost, light weight, smart, adaptive antenna system using digital signal processing techniques that can readily inter-work with new chip-scale radio technologies. This technology has commercial and government application in remote sensor networks, fixed and mobile ad hoc networks, intelligent transportation networks, and high-speed internet access and backbone networks. The facilities will serve as a center of excellence for the test, measurement and characterization of analog and digital communication equipment and systems, providing unique research and training opportunities in the Rocky Mountain west.Broader ImpactsThe instrumentation provides design and system-level training to graduate students, postdoctoral students, research staff and undergraduates in the use of state-of-the-art RF and digital test equipment and methodology. This instrumentation further enables interdisciplinary work combining RF design, embedded systems, digital signal processing and telecommunications. This instrumentation grant leverages REU and other programs designed to encourage graduate education for Native American students, providing additional educational opportunities. The instrumentation is foundational to continued curriculum development for RF design, telecommunications and embedded systems courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.