Abstract
This project aims to design and implement a Simulink-based software-defined experimental platform for a series of communication courses in the Information Engineering (IE) program, including ENGG2310, IERG3820, IERG3010, IERG4100, IERG4110, and IERG4230. Real communication systems, like cellular and Wi-Fi, are complicated. As such, more than five courses, as listed above, are taught in the IE program to phase in students’ understanding of the principles behind. In particular, the mathematical modeling of communication systems is quite abstract that conducting experiments is essential to acquire working knowledge of various communication systems.
Conventionally, communication experiments involve the use of dedicated hardware (e.g. modulators/demodulators) and instruments (e.g. spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope), and thus are typically conducted in laboratories. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this conventional way of conducting experiments less possible with teaching and learning mostly performed online. Though the instructors can demonstrate the experiments via online platforms, students’ engagement is weakened due to the lack of hands-on experience. To solve this problem, this project will develop a Simulink-based software-defined experimental platform that allows experiments to be conducted by the students using their in-home PCs pre-installed with the Simulink software.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
This project aims to design and implement a Matlab/Simulink-based software-defined experimental platform for a series of communication courses in Information Engineering (IE) program, including ENGG2310 “Principles of Communication Systems”, IERG3820 “Communications Lab”, IERG3010 “Digital Communications”, IERG4100 “Wireless Communication Systems”, IERG4110 “Hands-on Wireless Communication”, and IERG4230 “Introduction to Internet of Things”.
Activities, process and outcomes
In the first half of the project, 15 Simulink-based experiments of various communication systems have been implemented and tested, covering common technologies in both analog communication systems (e.g., amplitude modulation) and digital communication systems (e.g., PSK and QAM systems). In the second half of the project, more teaching materials have been developed with an emphasis on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and its real-world applications in Wi-Fi systems that we use every day. All the materials developed under the support of this project have been seamlessly integrated to form a new graduate course that is being taught in this term (Term 2 of 2021-22) under the course code and name––IERG6120 “Advanced Topics in Information Engineering I” Wi-Fi Signals and Systems. An undergraduate version of the course is under development and will be offered in 2023-24.
Deliverables and evaluation
The PI has shared the experience in the departmental communication course panel meeting.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
Supplementing the lectures with the materials developed in this project will facilitate students with better understanding of course materials and enhance their motivations and appreciations of the course as they can connect to the course materials to their daily lives.
