MEng/BEng projects possibilities for 2013-2014 Dr Robert Watson

Final year projects

This page just serves as a list of ideas for possible projects that I am willing to run. A lot of these involve both hardware (RF and general electronics) and software (Matlab, Python, C, C++):

1. Adaptive cancellation antenna for mitigating GPS interference: direction-of-arrival.
   The aim of this project is to develop an interference resistance antenna for mitigating the effects of unintentional or intentional interference on GPS. There are two hardware subsystems that need to be accomplished to achieve this. The first is system that determines direction-of-arrival of an interference signal (this project). The second is a system that using the direction-of-arrival information, steers an antenna pattern null towards the interference source (companion project). This project will entail background research into direction-of-arrival hardware and algorithms. The project will construct a direction-finding array and interface to a suitable platform (e.g., Beaglebone Black) for signal processing. To allow for easy testing the prototype system will be constructed to use 2.45GHz (the license-free ISM band). This project is best suited to an MEng student, ideally someone who has interest in RF engineering and circuit design

2. Adaptive cancellation antenna for mitigating GPS interference: null-steering.
   The aim of this project is to develop an interference resistance antenna for mitigating the effects of unintentional or intentional interference on GPS. There are two hardware subsystems that need to be accomplished to achieve this. The first is system that determines direction-of-arrival of an interference signal (companion project). The second is a system that using the direction-of-arrival information, steers an antenna pattern null towards the interference source (this project). The project will entail background research into null-steering antenna arrays and algorithms. The project will construct a simple four-element beamforming system based on a single-chip vector modulator and interface to a suitable platform (e.g., Beaglebone Black) for signal processing. To allow for easy testing the prototype system will be constructed to use 2.45 GHz (the license-free ISM band). This project is best suited to an MEng student, ideally someone who has interest in RF engineering and circuit design.
   

3. Combined optical and radio location of handheld GPS jammers.
   A system for the location of GNSS jammers has been recently developed in the Department. The aim of this project is to develop tracker software to combine the outputs of the detector and associate this with visual information from an optical camera. It is envisaged that the project will use an HD webcam (e.g., Logitech C920) and the OpenCV toolbox to develop application software to link to the existing radio location system. The project could also incorporate a hardware element to combine the output of a 24GHz flat panel radar (e.g., RFBeam K-MC1). This project is best suited to an MEng student with interests in C/C++ programming, image processing and computer vision, but could be undertaken by BEng students. Resources: GNSS jammer detection system (adapted to use a license-free frequency, e.g., 2.45 GHz), C920 camera, Linux PC with OpenCV.
   
   
4. Development of a direct FPGA interface to a software radio
   The aim of this project is to develop software to directly interface a commercially available software-defined-radio system directly to an FPGA. The software radio system, an Ettus Research USRP model N210, normally interfaces to a PC via a standard gigabit Ethernet interface. The focus will be to develop an interface between the N210 and an Altera DE2-115 or Xilinx Zedboard development board. To accomplish this this requires implementation of the software radio protocol (the N210 UHD driver software is open source written in C++) directly on the FPGA. This project is suitable for an MEng student (ideally having studied Microelectronics and Networks & Protocols) with interests in programming in Verilog, C++, Ethernet and learning more about software radio systems. Resources required: USRP N210, FPGA dev board, Linux PC with Altera Quartus tools, Wireshark with UHD and VITA49 packet dissectors.

These are the first few that come to mind, but I have lots of other ideas. If you are interested in any of these, send me an email.