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Multidisciplinary Senior Design using Software-Defined Radio

Multidisciplinary Senior Design using Software-Defined Radio. William Birmingham ASEE Conference June, 2009 Austin, TX. Grove City College. Key points. Multidisciplinary projects have high educational value Computer science/ Electrical engineering teams are natural

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Multidisciplinary Senior Design using Software-Defined Radio

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  1. Multidisciplinary Senior Design using Software-Defined Radio William Birmingham ASEE Conference June, 2009 Austin, TX

  2. Grove City College ASEE 2009: SDR

  3. Key points • Multidisciplinary projects have high educational value • Computer science/ Electrical engineering teams are natural • SDR is ideal technology for a project • Coordination issues must be managed ASEE 2009: SDR

  4. And SDR Is … ASEE 2009: SDR

  5. Software-Defined Radio • Critical communications technology • Cell phones • Wireless data networks • Emergency communications • Amateur radio • Commercial radio • … ASEE 2009: SDR

  6. SDR Technology • Replace most of radio electronics with software • Minimal hardware needed • Receiver: Downconvert RF to 11.025 KHz • Transmitter: Upconvert and amplify • All waveforms converted to audio with software • Process new waveform simply by modifying code • Allows radio to ride Moore’s law • Particularly important for power and form factor ASEE 2009: SDR

  7. SDR System Diagram ASEE 2009: SDR

  8. SDR Advantages • Multidisciplinary: too complex for single discipline • Other interesting aspects: • Federal regulations must be considered • UI design is critical • Applications are broad: commercial to public service • Concurrent development paths: • Software exists- gives EEs a “gold standard” • Hardware exists- gives CS students a “gold standard” ASEE 2009: SDR

  9. Senior Design • CS and EE offer different courses • Both are two terms • Both have team projects • Computer Science: software • AM Demodulation • Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) • Control signals for hw • Electrical Engineering: Circuit design • RF circuits • Serial port/USB to control device • Amateur radio licenses for transmitting • All CS students get license as part of their coursework ASEE 2009: SDR

  10. ABET Course Outcomes • Outcome 1: How to design and evaluate, from multiple perspectives, a software system. • Outcome 2: How to present and defend ideas in front of a group. • Outcome 3: How to use software-engineering methods for implementing and testing a software system • Outcome 4: How a software team is organized and operates • Outcome 5: How to search and read articles in the computing literature ASEE 2009: SDR

  11. The project: the good • CS Students • Decoded AM signals • Partially working DREAM (DRM) implementation • Controller for TenTec radio • Fully operational prototype • EE Students • Fab’ed hw, partially working • Interface to CS student hw worked out ASEE 2009: SDR

  12. The project: the problems • Coordination issues between groups • Specifications: • Easy to write general specs: USB control, IF frequency • Problems with specifics: control bits • No one wants to write specifications • Form factor disagreements ASEE 2009: SDR

  13. Evaluation • CS Students reported: • Very positive experience • Ability to create an entire system is key • UI design important • Ethics and IP in context • Difficulty in getting HW integrated • DHW fab are long compared to software cycles • Problems with the HW ASEE 2009: SDR

  14. Curriculum Issues: Support materials • Hardware • Flexradio • Tentec • Softrock kits • Software • Intel DSP Core • GNU SDR • GNU Dream (DRM receiver) • Flexradio software • TenTec software • Syllabus and course materials available ASEE 2009: SDR

  15. Summary • SDR is a critical technology • Excellent vehicle for multidisciplinary senior projects • Requires minimal equipment • Within the capabilities of most colleges and universities • Fun and popular • Continuing projects ASEE 2009: SDR

  16. DSP Software ASEE 2009: SDR

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