Programmable Steering of Radio Frequency Transmissions
Major
Physics
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Physics
Expected Graduation Date
2024
Location
CNS Atrium, Easel 12
Start Date
4-15-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
4-15-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
With a traditional directional antenna, the antenna must be physically rotated into the direction where the signal is to be sent. The need for mechanical robotics can be eliminated via use of a phased array antenna, in which (rapidly updatable) tailored time delays (phase shifts) between array elements are used to form a beam with bespoke direction, via the interference that naturally occurs between the signals emanating from the discrete elements of the array. Such “Beamformers” are used in mobile communications, radar, and satellite communications. Future 5G systems will transmit signals constructed in such a manner – narrow beams that will stay focused on the recipient, even if they change location at high speeds. Our future iterations could require FCC approval, for transmitting signals over longer distances, but as early adopters of this technology, we first aim to explore transmissions in the small-signal limit. Our phased-array Radio Frequency (RF) beamformer allows tailored time delays to be addressed to a small number of source elements, utilizing an infrastructure that will allow us to add more channels, as needed. Even with our initial implementation, we can explore RF sources and (to access higher frequencies) mixers, as well as RF amplification, basic beamforming, the transition from near-field to far-field radiation patterns, and the signal loss with distance associated with signal spread. Detection will be accomplished via a (hacked version of a) Software-Defined Radio (SDR) transceiver.
Programmable Steering of Radio Frequency Transmissions
CNS Atrium, Easel 12
With a traditional directional antenna, the antenna must be physically rotated into the direction where the signal is to be sent. The need for mechanical robotics can be eliminated via use of a phased array antenna, in which (rapidly updatable) tailored time delays (phase shifts) between array elements are used to form a beam with bespoke direction, via the interference that naturally occurs between the signals emanating from the discrete elements of the array. Such “Beamformers” are used in mobile communications, radar, and satellite communications. Future 5G systems will transmit signals constructed in such a manner – narrow beams that will stay focused on the recipient, even if they change location at high speeds. Our future iterations could require FCC approval, for transmitting signals over longer distances, but as early adopters of this technology, we first aim to explore transmissions in the small-signal limit. Our phased-array Radio Frequency (RF) beamformer allows tailored time delays to be addressed to a small number of source elements, utilizing an infrastructure that will allow us to add more channels, as needed. Even with our initial implementation, we can explore RF sources and (to access higher frequencies) mixers, as well as RF amplification, basic beamforming, the transition from near-field to far-field radiation patterns, and the signal loss with distance associated with signal spread. Detection will be accomplished via a (hacked version of a) Software-Defined Radio (SDR) transceiver.