An Undergraduate-level, Problem-based Introduction to Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing

Le résumé fourni par la source

Principles of Wireless Communication (PWC) is an upper-level Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) elective taught at Olin College, an undergraduate-only engineering institution that is known for its small size and project-based learning (PBL) curriculum. PWC takes a top-down approach to teaching where students develop an understanding of wireless communications principles by transmitting and receiving data across physical and simulated channels. The course is run in a studio-like environment; class time is used collaboratively to complete three labs using MATLAB and software-defined radios (SDRs). After each lab is completed, teams write a report which details their implementation, the theory behind the algorithms they wrote, and relevant quantitative benchmarks like constellation plots, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculations, and bit error rate calculations. Labs 1 and 2 entail implementations of binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) along with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system simulations. Lab 3 culminates in students implementing orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) from first principles and communicating data over the air. OFDM is a standard multicarrier scheme used in WiFi and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) systems among others. By implementing OFDM according to the required specifications, students execute a real-world project and apply self-directed learning techniques to acquire the relevant technical skills much like one would in an industry or research position. Throughout this process, the students gain a deep familiarity with the OFDM algorithm while preparing data at specific points in the processing pipeline for meaningful visualization. While OFDM is often covered in an introductory graduate-level course, in this course offering, undergraduates are exposed to the OFDM algorithm with a top-down, problem-based learning approach that ties together fundamentals of electrical engineering with a real-world context.

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