CNS Core: Small: Directional Software-Defined Radio

随着我们周围环境的连接越来越紧密，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)的使用效率提出了更严格的要求。无线社区通过解决在各个方向传播的全向无线电的干扰挑战，实现了出色的频谱效率创新。然而，单凭这些创新是否就足以满足未来无线需求的高性价比和安全解决方案，还有待商榷。作为一种很有前途的解决方案，定向无线电通过在特定方向上传输，提供了高速无线接入，以及更低的能量消耗和被入侵者拦截的概率的无线传输。然而，无线电方向性在对移动性和天线大小的容忍度方面存在劣势，需要发射机和接收机面对面，也就是。视线(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，支持动态可编程性，以应对定向收发机的移动性和视距对准方面的挑战，并获得实际的天线尺寸。该项目迈出了使收发信机方向性成为SDR平台的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，未来智能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扩散。该项目为UCF本科生和研究生提供了研究机会，包括代表性不足的少数民族。智力优势是使方向性成为主流无线设计组件。该项目加强了更高频谱频段的定向天线设计和角度分集封装，发展了高定向链路的干扰和功率管理理论，并为移动定向链路提供了节能和无缝的视距检测和维护。特别是，该项目探索了定向SDR设计，这些设计(1)引入具有波束控制能力的低成本反射阵列天线，(2)利用具有圆形或球形角度分集的低功率定向收发机封装，(3)在移动性下发现、建立和维护定向和/或LOS-要求链路，(4)通过在移动性下使用高定向链路来执行软件定义的波束成形，以及(5)使用快速启发式算法来动态地定向感知频谱并优化定向通信链路参数。以60 GHz及以上的新兴高频频段为重点，探索在代表城市或室内环境的短距离运行的新方法和技术。主要目标是调查方向性成为新规范和主流设计参数的无线链路管理和优化制度。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.