1 Software Radio Technology Dr. John Chapin CTO Vanu, Inc. One Porter Square, Suite 18 Cambridge, MA Presentation to NSMA conference Rosslyn, VA May 21, 2002

© 2002May Vanu, Inc. Overview –Founded September 1998 –Spin-off from MIT SDR research project 1994–1998 –Software vendor Contracts –MilitaryDARPA, JTRS Joint Program Office –Public SafetyNational Institute of Justice –Basic ResearchNational Science Foundation, MDA –AutomotiveTelematics device for a Tier 1 Supplier –SurveillanceMajor defense conglomerate

© 2002May Hardware Radio –Separate devices for different functions –Any fix or upgrade needs a hardware change PCS voice Analog VHF APCO P25 WLAN Software Radio –One device for many functions –Upgrade through software change

© 2002May SDR status in USA Military –Harris Falcon II, Motorola WITS –Since 1999, all DOD tactical radio procurements must be SDR –Military SDR standard: Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Civilian –SDR devices always certifiable as if they were legacy devices –FCC task force began in 1998 on SDR-specific rules –Docket Notice of InquiryMarch 2000 NPRMDecember 2000 First R&OSeptember 2001

© 2002May Different types of software radios Dual-mode cell phone Modal SDR –Software controls and configures the radio –ASIC or analog hardware Reconfigurable SDR –All signal processing reconfigurable –Significant use of FPGA or assembly code SpeakEasy AirNet Portable SDR (a.k.a. Pure SWR) –Software costs amortized over many platforms –Easily upgrade hardware over time Vanu RadioScape

© 2002May SDR internals Radio Front Endantenna RF tuning Analog-Digital Conversion Channelization No waveform-specific processing Embedded computer All waveform-specific functions in software Digital samples Analog at carrier frequency IF voicedata baseband

© 2002May Source: Mitola, Joseph. “Software Radio Architecture: A Mathematical Perspective”, IEEE JSAC, April A: HF STR-2000 B: COTS Handset C: SWR Cell Site D: SPEAKeasy II V: Vanu, Inc. Software Radio X: Ideal Software Radio Software Radio Phase Space

© 2002May Vanu status: Radio Front End for Agility Discrete components –Current TX limited to < 1 GHz, < 1 MHz wide –Separate front ends for receive and transmit –Cost $1000s TECHNOLOGY PROGRESS Multiple-IC board –Prototype quantities this summer – MHZ, worldwide cellular & PCS bands –Low power, full duplex, cost $100s Single IC –Ideal future platform, cost $10s –Manufacturers waiting for market to develop

© 2002May Vanu status: Processing for Flexibility

© 2002May SDR tradeoffs Higher power consumption –Reconfigurable processing vs dedicated circuits –Primarily an issue for battery-powered devices Sensitivity/selectivity of radio front end –Challenging to achieve if highly agile system –Primarily an issue for surveillance, military applications Lower gain if antenna is multi-band –Easy solution: attach 2 or 3 antennas –Primarily an issue for handheld devices SDR ready today for many uses

© 2002May For more information FCC Docket Two new books from Wiley –Tuttlebee, W., editor –Chapters by all the major players in the field –Software Defined Radio: Origins, Drivers and International Perspectives –Software Defined Radio: Enabling Technology –John Chapin