2016 Innovation Showcase

Wednesday, 16 March
SDr/SCA development tools focus

 

Development of 5G radio channel models – METIS project

Because its contribution to the future development of the next-generation communications (5G) by developing a complete new set of radio channels models based on realistic end-user scenarios and requirements. These new models will enable the testing and optimization of next-generation radio devices in a very wide set of the frequency spectrum, from relatively low frequencies in the current cellular frequency bands to centimetre and millimetre wave frequencies. These models will therefore help to speed up development of the next generation of wireless technology.

Ettus Research Demonstrates Open Source System-Level FPGA & GPP Design and Debug Tool

Ettus will be demonstrating their RFNoC(tm) tool which, combined with GNU Radio, provides a system-level tool that encompasses the design and debug of SDRs that use both FPGAs and GPPs. This novel tool is dataflow based where a single flow can move from the GPP to the FPGA and back, as needed. This enables a single, integrated design flow for both processors, instead of trying to combine designs from two development methodologies, which has traditionally been a big challenge.


 

Solutions for SCA 2.2.2 to SCA 4.1 migration: Model Driven Development Tools using a Zero Merge code generation paradigm

The SCA is a powerful and proven framework for the deployment and execution of signal processing applications on heterogeneous platforms. After a major upgrade to the SCA specification, companies are now faced with the challenge of migrating SCA 2.2.2 code to SCA 4.1 compliant code. The use of software tools can greatly help developers by replacing SCA 2.2.2 specific code with SCA 4.1 code. 

NordiaSoft will showcase its new release of SCA Architect, a Model-Driven Development (MDD) tool that relies on a Zero Merge code generation engine. As it names implies, the Zero Merge engine provides the ability to develop in short successive iterations without having to merge any source code between iterations. SCA Architect keeps user-added business logic separate from the infrastructure source code generated from the models. . Such separation provides developers the ability to modify the software models even after code has already been generated and business logic has been added.   NordiaSoft will explain how the Zero Merge code generation paradigm of SCA Architect could be used to automatically transform SCA 2.2.2 code into SCA 4.1 code.  

 

Capturing Real RF to Accelerate Your Validation and Research Projects
Do you need to capture GPS/GLONASS, WiFi, or LTE signals to accelerate your product validation or research projects? Want to build a library of real-world signals and impairments for repeatable lab playback and analysis? If so, drop by Averna's booth to see the powerful yet cost-effective RP-6100 solution in action. This flexible RF Record & Playback device - which is available in 2- and 4-channel versions - can capture up to 160 MHz of spectrum, has a 10-6000 MHz frequency range, tight channel synchronization and up to 16 TB of storage. To suit any need, Averna has portable, desktop and rackmount models, all featuring a state-of-the-art software-defined radio (SDR) and powered by the easy-to-use RF Studio, which has great tools for quickly defining, visualizing and playing back your recordings. You can also add text and audio comments while you record or plug in a camera to capture the whole environment if you are recording from a vehicle. At WInnComm 2016, Averna will put the emphasis on how easy it is to operate the RP-6100 for common use cases such as GPS L1, GLONASS G1, WiFi and LTE signals. Don't miss this chance to see a truly innovative RF solution that made the EDN Hot 100 Product list! For more information, see Averna's RP-6100 product page: http://www.averna.com/en/products/rf-instruments/rp-6100

 

Low power consumption techniques for GPU-Based algorithms
GPUs are becoming more popular and are being used to increment the performance on various application areas, taking the advantage of having much better performance per watt compared to multicore CPUs. Thus, they can provide a suitable solution to enable the fourth generation wireless technologies implementation on embedded SDR platforms, focusing on system energy usage. This proposal is based on the development of signal processing baseband algorithms over heterogeneous architectures composed by GPU, like Nvidia Tegra K1. The main goal is the efficient hardware architectures usage maintaining the energy efficiency taking advantage over the data parallelism. Currently one of the most common techniques for achieving low energy consumption is the switching of multiple energy operating modes available in each processor architecture. Additionally, the proposed approach includes energy aware coding techniques for signal processing algorithms, applied to heterogeneous architectures, which maintain the balance between performance and energy efficiency requirements. The flow includes a scheduler able to integrate and allocate threads on the GPP and the GPU, identifying the critical and more feasible operations to be implemented on the GPU to exploit its SIMD characteristic. Also incorporates the Visual Profiler, used to verify the efficient resource allocation over the GPU. In this Demonstration some methodologies will be shown, proving the performance and usage of GPU on base band signal processing and energy awareness.
 
E2IQ FPGA Core for DVB-S2X
In this demonstration, AHA Products Group shows the performance of our E2IQ FGPA Core on the Ettus X310. Recently ratified, the new DVB-S2X standard offers an increase in spectral efficiency and operating range for satellite communications. We are the first to implement and demonstrate a real DVB-S2X system on an SDR platform using our E2IQ FGPA Core. In this demo, we show the key advances in DVB-S2X, the hardware configuration, modem core design, and performance of our modem. Through our performance experiments over the AWGN channel, we show the modem has low implementation loss and a maximum data rate of 324 Mb/s.
 
SCA Based Testing

 

SCA based test tools open up the opportunity for faster and more thorough testing of SCA devices and systems.  They also provide opportunities for testing in ways not available to traditional test instrumentation.  As a world leader in wireless test Cobham AvComm will highlight some of the advanced SCA based test and diagnostics tools that will be available on its new SCA Platform.  These tools will run alongside and fully integrate with the Cobham SCA Platform’s simulation, development and emulation capabilities.  Together they will provide unprecedented test coverage, speed, and traceability throughout the entire lifecycle of SCA devices and systems.  The Cobham SCA Platform supports the entire SCA lifecycle, and is based on the Cobham AXIe Next Generation Modular Platform that EDN Network called “The number one modular instrument news story of 2015”!

 

 

 DRS Signal Solutions: Demonstrates Open Source interface to High Performance Radios

DRS will be demonstrating their Polaris and Harrier Tuners operating with GNU Radio.  The Polaris multi-channel wideband digital tuner represents the next generation of tactical RF front ends. With a frequency range of 2 to 6200 MHz, it can intercept a wide range of signals of interest providing a wideband 85 MHz digitized bandpass from each of its up to four channels. Its small size, low power consumption and rugged mechanical characteristics make it ideal for a range of man-portable, vehicle mounted, airborne, shipboard, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. 

The Harrier multi-channel wideband HF digital tuner provides and unsurpassed ability to detect very weak signals in dense and noisy HF signal environments.  With the ability to continuously stare at the entire HF spectrum and to perform precision tuning in multiple sub-bands, the Harrier meets challenges posed by a range of COMINT missions. The Harrier’s digitized IF is packetized, precision time-stamped and output with context data in accordance with the VITA 49 Radio Transport standard and then transmitted over a 10 Gigabit fiber optic Ethernet link for further processing.

 

 

Virginia Tech Wireless Testbeds, Visualization Software, and Testing Framework

This demonstration highlights capabilities of Wireless @ Virginia Tech’s indoor and outdoor cognitive radio network (CORNET) testbeds as well as newer testbeds focused on LTE and health care-related applications.  Together, these testbeds encompass over 60 Internet-accessible software-defined radio (SDR) nodes capable of over-the-air operation and additional LTE COTS and SDR units, test instruments, and an RF channel emulator.  Additionally, the CORNET-3D visualization software, developed with Virginia Tech Advanced Research Computing, provides a web-based interface for interacting with the radio frequency spectrum, and the cognitive radio test system (CRTS) provides a framework for experimental research on wireless radios and networks.  The indoor CORNET testbed and CRTS are being used in the Spectrum-Sharing Radio Contest (Spectrum-ShaRC), an international student design competition and in curriculum development projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.

 

Thursday, 17 March
SDR Platforms focus

Latest Ettus Research SDR Hardware and Demos on Display!

Come see the latest Ettus SDRs including: - the E313, an 310 SDR with a waterproof and dustproof enclosure that is powered over Ethernet and has lightning protection, a great solution for outdoor spectrum monitoring! - a new superheterodyne receiver product We look forward to discussing how these new products can help you solve your technical challenges!

 

SDR Embedded Heterogeneous Platforms for high-speed processing

Existing embedded SDR platforms based on low-power and portable hardware architectures have limited resources and the software libraries responsible for emulating the entire base band processing system, do not use the hardware architectures efficiently. Therefore, these systems provide a poor processing performance preventing the efficient implementations of fourth generation wireless technologies, which requires a fastest throughput than any other technology. Currently, the strategies used by industry leading companies are to improve the performance stages migrating the DSP stages of the software into dedicated hardware on FPGA. However, the main challenge is the lack of acceptance that the FPGA design flow has; because it brings the drawbacks of hardware development (low flexibility and extensive development time). The architecture proposed by GREEMSY, keeps the whole base band DSP stages in the software, which continues supporting the flexibility and simplicity for the user as it intends from its conception. The performance improvement is obtained by integrating multiprocessor embedded systems with low power consumption and the redesign of the DSP software libraries towards a parallel programming architecture for heterogeneous multi-core systems. In this Demonstration an embedded platform will be shown which is able to solve the high speed requirements of emerging wireless communications technologies.

Capturing Real RF to Accelerate Your Validation and Research Projects

Do you need to capture GPS/GLONASS, WiFi, or LTE signals to accelerate your product validation or research projects? Want to build a library of real-world signals and impairments for repeatable lab playback and analysis? If so, drop by Averna's booth to see the powerful yet cost-effective RP-6100 solution in action. This flexible RF Record & Playback device - which is available in 2- and 4-channel versions - can capture up to 160 MHz of spectrum, has a 10-6000 MHz frequency range, tight channel synchronization and up to 16 TB of storage. To suit any need, Averna has portable, desktop and rackmount models, all featuring a state-of-the-art software-defined radio (SDR) and powered by the easy-to-use RF Studio, which has great tools for quickly defining, visualizing and playing back your recordings. You can also add text and audio comments while you record or plug in a camera to capture the whole environment if you are recording from a vehicle. At WInnComm 2016, Averna will put the emphasis on how easy it is to operate the RP-6100 for common use cases such as GPS L1, GLONASS G1, WiFi and LTE signals. Don't miss this chance to see a truly innovative RF solution that made the EDN Hot 100 Product list! For more information, see Averna's RP-6100 product page: http://www.averna.com/en/products/rf-instruments/rp-6100

 

Simulate, Develop, Emulate and Test Your SCA Device on the Same Platform!

Simulation, Design, Emulation and Test are all challenging phases of an SCA device or system lifecycle.  Each one is typically addressed individually using a wide variety of commercial and home-grown hardware and software tools that in many cases don’t integrate well, if at all, or the level of effort to integrate them does not meet return on investment thresholds.  This leads to many duplications of effort and lack of traceability throughout the SCA development lifecycle—precisely the things that the SCA promises help!  The SCA has proven to increase reuse and cut costs and time to market between SCA devices and systems, but what if there was a platform that provided these same benefits to each individual SCA device or system as well?  As a world leader in wireless test Cobham AvComm has partnered with NordiaSoft, a world leader in SCA software, to introduce the Cobham SCA Platform.  The first to support the entire lifecycle of an SCA device or system, and based on the platform that EDN Network called “The number one modular instrument news story of 2015”!  Simulate your waveform and protocol stack on fully SCA compliant hardware and software before you start designing your radio or other SCA device – ; Prototype your SCA device using “calibrated” test equipment grade hardware – ; Integrate your prototype hardware and software into the SCA Platform and test it as you go with a completely integrated suite of “SCA based” test capabilities - ; Once you get your first precious pre-production or production SCA devices, use the SCA Platform with waveforms, software and hardware developed in previous phases to emulate an entire system or network - ; Extensively reuse waveforms, software and hardware from all previous phases in production, depot and field test configurations of the same SCA Platform to provide unprecedented test performance and requirements traceability, and eliminate those pesky no-fault-found issues - .  These are just some of the things you can do with the Cobham SCA Platform that we will be demonstrating at WinnComm 2016, the home of the SCA. You can do with the Cobham SCA Platform that we will be demonstrating at WinnComm 2016, the home of the SCA.

 

Efficient Software Porting Between Heterogeneous Platforms using OpenCL™

The Open Computing Language (OpenCL™) presents an opportunity for Wireless Innovation Forum Members (WInnF) to substantially increase the portability and reusability of the software components that are part of waveform applications. OpenCL presents an avenue that  addresses the WInnF's number 1 most wanted innovation regarding Techniques for Efficient Software Porting Between Heterogeneous Platforms.

NordiaSoft will showcase how an application can be built and integrated in the SCA environment to run on a variety of heterogeneous processors without  changes in its source code.  The demonstration will show the complete development cycle of SCA components, including modeling, code generation, and addition of business logic (using OpenCL code to perform the signal processing portion of the application). The SCA Application is then instantiated with the signal processing business logic executed on processing elements of different architectures (GPP,GPU, or FPGA) without changing the OpenCL business logic (source code). This demonstration will use the NordiaSoft SCARI Software Suite and CobhamSCA Development Platform.

 

 

ANCORTEK Light-Weight Low-Power Software Defined Radar Development Kits to Accelerate Your R&D Projects

Are you looking for an experimental radar system for your projects on industrial automation, biomedical monitoring or health care, and public safety or homeland security?  Ancortek Inc. specialized in building light-weight, low-power, short-range software defined radar has development kits (SDR KITs) for you to accelerate your project development cycle.  Ancortek SDR kits offer a great deal on system compactness and flexibility. Without modifying hardware, the SDR system can be adopted in different scenarios. Current RF modules cover S, C, X, and K bands operating at 2.4 GHz, 5.8/6.2 GHz, 9.8 GHz and 25 GHz, respectively. The graphical user interface (SDR-GUI) gives users access to selecting various options on signal waveforms (CW, FMCW, FSK), bandwidths, operating parameters, filtering types, and data recording. It is capable of showing graphical representation of signals in time domain, frequency domain, combined time and frequency domain in real time.  Ancortek also has a MATLAB version of GUI for academic research groups.  This version has the same features as our regular SDR-GUI version.  In addition, it allows users to modify MATLAB source codes to implement their own developed signal processing and analysis tools.  

Prototyping DVB-S2X on Ettus X310

SDR technology platforms hold the promises for enabling more rapid development and prototyping of new technology. Recently ratified, the new DVB-S2X standard offers an increase in spectral efficiency and operating range for satellite communications. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to implement and demonstrate a real DVB-S2X system on an SDR platform. In this presentation, we discuss the key advances in DVB-S2X, the hardware configuration, modem core design, and performance of our modem. Through our performance experiments over the AWGN channel, we show the modem has low implementation loss and a maximum data rate of 324 Mb/s.

DRS Signal Solutions: Demonstrates Open Source interface to High Performance Radios

DRS will be demonstrating their Polaris and Harrier Tuners operating with GNU Radio.  The Polaris multi-channel wideband digital tuner represents the next generation of tactical RF front ends. With a frequency range of 2 to 6200 MHz, it can intercept a wide range of signals of interest providing a wideband 85 MHz digitized bandpass from each of its up to four channels. Its small size, low power consumption and rugged mechanical characteristics make it ideal for a range of man-portable, vehicle mounted, airborne, shipboard, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. 

The Harrier multi-channel wideband HF digital tuner provides and unsurpassed ability to detect very weak signals in dense and noisy HF signal environments.  With the ability to continuously stare at the entire HF spectrum and to perform precision tuning in multiple sub-bands, the Harrier meets challenges posed by a range of COMINT missions. The Harrier’s digitized IF is packetized, precision time-stamped and output with context data in accordance with the VITA 49 Radio Transport standard and then transmitted over a 10 Gigabit fiber optic Ethernet link for further processing.

 

We showcase how you can verify your LTE and WLAN designs in MATLAB by using live radio signals through waveform generation and over-the-air testing

In this demo, you will learn how to use MATLAB to connect your wireless designs to a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) devices. We showcase how you can verify your designs in MATLAB by using live radio signals through waveform generation and over-the-air testing. While transmitting and receiving live audio and video signals over the air, you will learn about the entire process from waveform generation, configuring signal transmission and acquisition parameters, retrieving IQ data into MATLAB and finally measurement and analysis on the received data in MATLAB and Simulink.

 
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