Overview
What is a Communications System?
Traditional hardware radio versus Software Defined
Radio
What is SDR?
Advantages and applications of SDR
Projects
Schedule for Summer/Fall
June 19, 2010
What is a Communications System?
3
A communications system transfers an information
bearing signal from a source to one or more
destinations.
Examples:
Radio
TV
Telephone (landline or wireless)
Computer Network (terminal-computer or computer-
computer)
Radar
Wireless Microphone
July 16, 2008
Communications System Diagram
4
Information
Source and Output
Transmitter Channel Receiver
Input Transducer
Transducer
July 16, 2008
Traditional Transceiver (Hardware)
5
•Amplifiers
•Modulators
•Demodulators
•Mixers
•Filters
•Oscillators
June 19, 2010
Disadvantages of the Traditional Hardware
Receiver
6
Simple modulation / demodulation only
Limited implementation of filters
Alignment
Aging
Complexity
Fixed design: frequency/mode
Non linearity – unwanted signals
These are limitations of a hardware based system
June 19, 2010
What is Software Defined Radio (SDR)?
7
• A new technology for implementing radio
communications systems
• Art and science of building radios using primarily
software
• Eliminating hardware and moving software as close to the
antenna as possible
• Future direction of communications systems
• Encompasses many areas of EE: communications, signal
processing, antennas, RF, digital design, software
June 19, 2010
Software Defined Radio
8
Analog to
Digital Software
Converter
Radio is modified by
changing the
software. The
hardware remains
the same
June 19, 2010
Advantages of SDR
9
Makes communications systems reconfigurable
(adapting to new standards)
Flexibility (universal platform – not special
purpose) – Hardware stays the same
Upgradable, modifiable
Filters/other hardware
Cognitive/Smart Radio
June 19, 2010
SDR Applications
10
Current
Military
Radio Astronomy
Amateur Radio
Future
Personal Communications
Cell phones
Wi Fi
Entertainment distribution
Public Safety
Broadcasting
Digital Radio
Digital Television
June 19, 2010
Components of a SDR System
11
For development
purposes
Daughterboard (optional) Motherboard
FPGA
USB
(Decimator,
ADC MUX, etc.) Controller PC
Shifts the Samples
frequency of Performs Software for
the
the desired initial signal Transmitter/
analog
signal processing Receiver
signal
June 19, 2010
USRP - Motherboard/Daughterboard
12
June 19, 2010
GNU Radio Software
13
Community-based project started in 1998
GNU Radio application consists of sources (inputs),
sinks (outputs) and transform blocks
Transform blocks: math, filtering, modulation/
demodulation, coding, etc.
Sources: USRP, audio, file input, signal generator, …
Sinks: USRP, audio, file output, FFT, oscilloscope, …
Blocks written in C++
Python scripts used to connect blocks and form
application
June 19, 2010
Previous SDR Projects
14
Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Telemetry Link
Two way communications link between a ground station and a UAV
Transfers images, location, temperature, battery information
Includes Automatic Target Recognition feature
General Purpose Transceiver
Multi-mode: AM/FM/ SSB/Digital, Voice/Data/CW
Wide frequency spectrum: HF, VHF, UHF, +
Signal processing
Development of Hardware Platform for SDR
FPGAs
Amplifier and associated control and safety features
June 19, 2010
Future SDR Projects
15
Continued work on the UAV link and HF transceiver
Development of Hardware Platform for SDR
Optical Link from Aircraft Cockpit to
instrumentation on the wing
Applications of Spread Spectrum in SDR systems
Cognitive Radio
Hardware for human/SDR interface
Implementation of chirp radar system
Front End for Transceiver
June 19, 2010
Demonstration
16
Transceiver demonstration
June 19, 2010
Schedule
17
Summer
Introduction to Communications (for undergrads)
Learning to use GNU Radio
Preliminary project planning
Accessing the lab with card
Installing Ubuntu and GNU Radio
Fall Semester
Regular working meetings
Sources of Information
Project web page
June 19, 2010
