Our Research

We conduct end-to-end studies on advanced RF and communications systems development in many different engineering fields including remote sensing, signal processing, full-scale system design, and more.

RF Design and Communication

Electrical/computer, mechanical, data processing, signal/waveform generation and transformation, all of these engineering fields must be utilized together in order to realize the complex process that is RF system design. These systems can have a wide variety of applications such as: high-speed telecommunications, atmospheric event monitoring and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), to name a few. Our laboratory conducts research and has developed RF systems (both individual systems as well as networks of systems) for all of these applications and more, giving its members the opportunity to work with all aspects of RF system design, from the initial conceptualization and researching to the hardware/software implementation and any where in between. Because of this, our lab empowers its lab members with practical, hands-on experience in applied electromagnetics, signal processing and RF engineering.

Radar Remote Sensing

Radars are incredible for their ability to transmit signals over long distances and gather detailed, characteristic information about their target. Through the transmitter, a radar emits an electromagnetic wave that scatters when it propagates through some physical media (i.e., a building or a mountain, a passing car, air, hydrometeors like rain, snow, and hail, and even swarms of insects). Some of the scattered electromagnetic wave is reflected back to the radar where it is collected by the receiver and stored as data after processing. This data gives us insightful knowledge that helps us better understand the world around us. Our lab primarily focuses on researching and understanding the atmospheric processes that cause the formation of weather events so that we can help aid natural resource management and emergency preparedness efforts. This work enables us to make more accurate and timely weather forecasts, helping to make our communities safer. We also conduct research on other applications of radars such as detecting cars and other collision threats for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This cutting edge technology has been growing rapidly by the automobile industry in recent years. Our students have the opportunity to work at the forefront of technological developments such as these and discover for themselves the true power and potential of radar technology.

Data from Hurricane Dorian

Satellite Communication and Remote Sensing

Satellites have enabled the communication and remote sensing fields to advance even further due to a satellite’s ability to continually orbit around Earth, allowing RF systems to be carried beyond the atmosphere. The vacuum of space is an ideal medium for electromagnetic wave propagation as it allows the waves to travel further with no loss of energy, increasing the range of communications technologies as well as the quality of data obtained from remote sensing. This also allows for a different perspective of weather events to be observed, enhancing our understanding of atmospheric events as a whole. Our laboratory has partnered with NASA on operations such as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission where we have given our lab members the opportunity to develop radars that serve as ground validation radars for the satellite observations alongside processing algorithms for comparing the two while working with prominent NASA engineers.

Embedded Computing and Signal Processing

RF systems are typically complex, intricate combinations of electro-mechanical devices due to their wide variety of applications as well as all of the components working together that are needed to perform the desired task. In order to achieve this, high-functioning embedded computing systems are designed that integrate the hardware and software of the RF system. This sometimes includes the signal processing algorithms used to transform the raw RF data into a form that is more physically meaningful such as radar products for weather radar that give insight into the intensity, velocity, and composition of a storm. The RF, 5G, and Radar Laboratories has extensive experience in developing large-scale, real-time embedded computing systems alongside sophisticated signal processing algorithms and we encourage our students to explore any and all aspects of this field to help them develop their skills as engineers.

Atmospheric Physics

The atmosphere can be viewed as a complex media of gases, particulates and hydrometeors that, when influenced by factors such as pressure changes, temperature differences and wind velocity, create all of the natural weather phenomena affecting the world everyday. These events can be as gentle as rain showers or as devastating as natural disasters. By researching and understanding the processes/atmospheric interactions that cause these events to occur (i.e., how they form, grow, intensify, move, etc.), we aim to help make our community safer. Our weather radars and radar networks have already proven their capabilities and importance by helping traffic, safety and emergency response authorities have fast and accurate data in order to issue early warnings to their citizens and help save lives.