Universal MIMO OFDM SDR for Mobile Autonomous Networks

Wireless technologies have experienced unprecedented innovation over the past decade. Multi input multi input (MIMO) techniques are at the forefront of this innovation wave. MIMO provides a new degree of design freedom by utilizing more than one antenna at the transmitter and the receiver. Researchers have been quick to quantify the tremendous gains that MIMO provides in capacity, security, throughput etc. However to-date most of these studies are theoretical in nature. Silvus is proposing to build a software defined radio (SDR) based on MIMO algorithms combined with state of the art orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation. The marriage of these two techniques in one programmable platform will allow the ultimate flexibility in supporting a wide range of data rates under harsh wireless channel conditions. The increased throughput rate can then be leveraged to enable network-centric warfare. The proposed platform will include channel adaptive algorithms such as variable bandwidth, multiband operation, as well as extremely fast frequency switching (<10 us) within a band. The proposed SDR will provide invaluable insight in the interaction and the intricacies of these algorithms as they apply to communications in harsh military environments.