(i) Communication. CS6120 offers an in-depth exploration of wireless communications, beginning with fundamental concepts of RF signals and their representation in both time and frequency domains. Students will learn about signal fading and various models for RF propagation loss, which are essential for understanding signal transmission and reception in diverse environments. The course also examines important modulation techniques such as Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), and m-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (m-QAM) along with an analysis of their bit error rate (BER) performance. Additionally, the principles of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), channel estimation, and equalization methods are covered. A key component of the course involves practical demonstrations using software-defined radios (SDRs - USRP, HackRF, RTLSDR), enabling students to directly observe and apply theoretical concepts in real-time scenarios.
(ii) Sensing. The second component of the course delves into RF-based sensing techniques, highlighting the significance of Channel Impulse Response (CIR) and channel frequency response (CFR) as vital metrics for sensing applications. Students will explore a range of signals including Ultra Wideband (UWB), WiFi signals that offer varying degrees of spatial sensing resolution and coverage. Application of deep learning methodologies on RF data (e.g., CNNs for classifying amplitude or phase spectrograms) will be highlighted. Students will engage with practical use cases, current research in the area, focusing on applications such as RF-driven navigation, human activity and gesture recognition and material classification.
(iii) Networking. In the final segment, the course addresses wireless networking, with a study of the IEEE 802.11 WiFi Medium Access Control. This module also provides students with insights into current developments in IoT wireless technologies, covering essential protocols like LoRa, Bluetooth Low Energy and RFID. The course concludes with an exploration of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks and their role in modern communication systems.