525.736 - Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications Course Homepage
Instructor Information
Robbin Roddewig
Email: robbin.roddewig@verizon.netWork Phone: (703) 453-7700
Course Information
Course Description
The theory and implementation of smart antennas is explored including electromagneticprinciples, array signal processing, random processes, channel characterization, spectral estimation and adaptive algorithms. The fundamentals of electromagnetics, antenna elements, antenna arrays, sidelobe cancellation and adaptive antennas methods will be covered. Matlab will be used for instruction, simulation and homework.
Prerequisites
525.414 Probability and Stochastic Processes, 525.418 AntennaSystems. Knowledge of Matlab will be helpful.
Course Goal
Gain an understanding and experience with smart antenna environments, algorithms and implementation. Implementations of smart antennas apply to modern cellular systems, wireless LAN's, radar, GPS and others.
Course Objectives
- Evaluate a system requirement for implementation of an appropriate Smart Antenna implementation
Understand how adaptive arrays can be applied to moderm communication systems and radar. Design a Smart Antenna system and be able to evaluate performance. Gain an understanding of the operation and application of spatial filtering accomplished by adaptive array antenna systems.
When This Course is Typically Offered
Usually offered in the Spring of each year at the Montgomery County Campus.
Syllabus
Topics Covered
- Channel characteristics
- Array theory
- Review of electromagnetics for antennas
- Antenna design specific to smart arrays
- Angle of arrival algorithms
- Trained Algorithms
- Non-trained algorithms
- Smart Antennas applications
- Smart Antennas system design and trades
- MIMO
- Adaptive array implementations for GPS, cellular and WLAN
Student Assessment Criteria
| Homework/lab assignments | 40% |
| Semester project | 40% |
| Class participation and discussion | 20% |
Grading policy will be based upon homeworks, participation and a semester project.
Computer and Technical Requirements
Course will use Sakai and PCs running the most recent Student version of Matlab/Simulink
Participation Expectations
This course will consist of four basic student requirements:
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Homework - Each student is required to complete all homework assignments to earn a course grade. Homework assignments will be evaluated and graded on a scale of 0 to 100. It is important to note that homework assignments that fully meet all objectives will receive a grade of 95. The remaining 5 points are reserved for products that go beyond the established objectives of the assignment and clearly identify additional effort, additional research, or self-assessment. Homework not submitted will receive a grade of 0, resulting in an incomplete for the course. Late homework assignments will be reduced by a 10 point penalty per week late. Deficient homework will be returned to students for resubmission within 1 week; the final grade for the specific homework assigned will be the average of the two grades. The intent is to ensure that you are successfully learning the concepts taught in this course. Homework assignments will generally involve answering a scenario problem based upon a specific project management skill. Homework assignments will be uploaded into WebCT and will be accepted in ASCII or Microsoft Word 97(R) (or later) format. Any resubmissions should be sent to the grading instructor* via WebCT mail.
*The grading instructor is listed in the Course Outline. -
Discussions - Student participation in class discussions is imperative for a successful online class experience Lessons learned and past experiences provide the entire class with a broader perspective of the topics being discussed. All students are required to participate throughout the semester. As shown in the table above, class participation will count toward the student's final grade. Throughout the week, each student is required to submit postings to the assigned discussion thread. Each student is expected to respond to the initial discussion question and to at least two of your classmates' responses (additional postings are preferred). A student's initial response and one follow-on posting must be "significant" in nature (see definition below). The goals of these discussions are to (a) thoroughly examine the topic area, (b) apply critical thinking skills, and (c) establish a repository of research material to be used throughout the semester.
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Group Projects - A group project will require students to apply the skills developed in the earlier sessions of the course to the development of a proposal. Teams will be made up of 2-3 students. Each team will be required to deliver a final project report and a presentation. All team members are expected to contribute to the team project; each team member will be asked to submit teammate evaluations with their final report. A WebCT discussion forum will be established for each team. The final team project presentations will be performed synchronously with the course instructors via the eLive! tool. Team presentation dates/times will be scheduled during the first few weeks of class.
Textbooks
Textbook information for this course is available online through the MBS Direct Virtual Bookstore.
Course Notes
There are notes for this course.
Final Words from the Instructor
This information is preliminary and instructors reserve the right to change it at any time prior to the Spring 09 schedule being released.
(Last Modified: 08-16-2009 at 8:25:27 PM)