MILLMETER WAVE SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO

Silva, João Gonçalo Cruz

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/13890

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Authors

Silva, João Gonçalo Cruz

Advisor(s)

Mendes, Luís Miguel Moreira

Vaz, João Manuel Torres Caldinhas Simões

Abstract(s)

This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an advanced SDR platform that significantly enhances flexibility, performance, and expandability in wireless communication systems. The research encompasses the development of a base SDR platform operating from 100 MHz to 6 GHz, complemented by a mmWave expansion card extending the frequency range up to 40 GHz. The platform’s architecture integrates a powerful signal processing core, featuring both FPGA-based hardware processing and a quad-core ARM CPU, enabling efficient handling of complex signal processing tasks. Key features of the developed SDR platform include a wide frequency range, high bandwidth capabilities of up to 56 MHz, and flexible sampling rates up to 60 MSPS (with potential for 120 MSPS). The system incorporates MIMO 2x2 functionality and an on-board frequency synthesizer operating up to 18 GHz, enhancing its versatility for various wireless applications. The platform’s expandability is demonstrated through the successful integration of the mmWave expansion card, showcasing its readiness for next-generation wireless technologies, including 5G and beyond. Additionally, the SDR’s modular design approach, coupled with multiple power options, such as USB-PD and a high-speed PCIe interface for data offloading, ensures adaptability to diverse research scenarios and future technological advancements. Extensive laboratory and real-environment assessments validate the SDR plat form’s performance, confirming its compliance with and, in some instances, surpass ing initial design specifications. The research highlights the platform’s potential for exploring new modulation schemes, investigating spectrum sharing techniques, and developing novel wireless protocols. This work significantly contributes to the field of software defined radio, providing a robust foundation for future research in wireless communications, from IoT to fixed and cellular communications and radar systems.