Cosimo Stallo

Experimental Italian Q/V band satellite network

Broadband technologies are taking a predominant role in the emerging information society. In particular, broadband satellite communication systems, with their global access and broadcasting capabilities, are well suited to answer to the requirements of the information society. This paper focuses on the efforts that are currently spent toward the development of EHF (Extremely High Frequency) satellite communications systems. In particular, Q/V (35–75 GHz) and W (75–110 GHz) bands, represent an almost “free” spectrum resource that could be used to realize the so-called satellite gigabit-connectivity, in order to support innovative broadband applications. This paper presents the most important features of an experimental Q/V band satellite network based on the Alphasat TDP#5 (Technology Demonstration Payload), an ongoing project, funded by the Italian Space Agency, that aims at carrying out communication and propagation experiments over a Q/V band satellite link.

Interoperability solutions between smartphones and Wireless Sensor Networks

The work aims at discussing possible engineering solutions to guarantee the interoperability between smartphones and WSN under high mobility levels. The paper discusses an application scenario where some of the most interesting standards for WSNs can be effectively employed together with smartphones. The architectures supporting interoperable smartphone/WSN systems, considering network topology and functionalities of the nodes are presented together with current network solutions for interoperability.

Analysis and design of a point-to-point radio-link at W band for future satellite telecommunication experiments

In the last years EHF (Extremely High Frequency / 30–300 GHz) band is acquiring more and more interest in different fields, such as telecommunications, radar applications and Earth observation, due to advantageous characteristics. Actually, the higher operating frequency with respect to traditional ranges (Ka and lower) allows the achievement of some advantages: no crowding in frequency and hence reduced interference, large bandwidth availability, reduced antenna and electronic components size, and more security in point-to-point links due to smaller beamwidth. Moreover, the increase of frequencies allows the realization of, with respect to lower bands, high resolution applications, as radar images and Earth Observation sensors.12

IKNOW Mission: Payload Design for In Orbit Test of W Band Technology

This paper presents the payload design for an in orbit test of W band technology called IKNOW mission (In orbit Key-test and validatioN Of W band). The increasing demand for frequency bands with large bandwidth availability to satisfy satellite communications applications requirements renders mandatory the need to explore higher and higher frequency ranges. W band (75-110 GHz) could represent the answer to these needs due to the large bandwidth availability, allowing to propose many innovative services that need high-volume transfers. Therefore, the exploitation of W band is foreseen in order to meet the high-quality data transmission for a large number of end users and data-oriented services. The IKNOW mission is a demonstrative experiment foreseen within the phase A2 of the WAVE (W band analysis and verification) project, a study funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), which aims at designing and developing W band payloads for telecommunication applications. This paper will be focused on the characterization of the IKNOW mission within the WAVE project devoted to carry out a preliminary channel propagation assessment. Specifically, special attention will be paid to the payload design, particularly critical from the technological point of view at these high frequencies. The basic idea is to develop the receiving/transmitting chain using MMIC devices, in order to fit cost, power and weight constraints, typically limited for a spacecraft. Technological critical items will be highlighted, focusing on the present state of the art and presenting some architectural choices. Moreover, some simulations based on ADS software will be reported in order to simulate the performance of the identified payload configuration.

IR-UWB for high bit rate communications beyond 60 GHz

The recently allocated 71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz bands provide an opportunity for Line Of Sight (LOS) links for directional point-to-point “last mile” links. An efficient use of this spectrum may allow wireless to finally “catch up” with wires, leading to systems such as “multi-Gigabit wireless Ethernet,” and “wireless fiber.” However, the transmission at such a frequency range is characterized by several additional challenges compared to lower frequency bands, from the technological and propagation point of view, which makes difficult to use them efficiently. In this scenario, IR-UWB technology might offer some more degrees of freedom for the design of a highly integrated, low cost transceiver. This work has at its core the design and BER (Bit Error Rate) performance evaluation of an IR-UWB architecture based on an 85 GHz (this frequency belongs to W band/75–110 GHz) up-conversion stage of train of Gaussian pulses having a duration lower than 1 ns. Finally, we compare performance of this architecture with the ones of a more traditional continuous wave communications system with FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulation. Simulation results show that BER performance, in presence of RF non-linearities, for an IR-UWB transceiver architecture operating at W band (with same data rate and bandwidth) are better than a coherent BFSK scheme working in a similar scenario.

Performance analysis of an IR-UWB transceiver architecture for multi-gigabit/s LOS links in W band

While cellular and WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) at low frequencies (1–5 GHz) constantly struggle with the quasi-saturation of spectrum, the EHF band (30–300 GHz) has huge swathes of band available at no cost. The recently allocated 71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz bands provide an opportunity for Line Of Sight (LOS) links for directional point-to-point ”last mile” links. This work focuses on the design and BER (Bit Error Rate) performance evaluation of a W band IR-UWB architecture based on an 85 GHz up-conversion stage of train of ns Gaussian pulses in terms of phase noise, and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) and High Power Amplifier (HPA) distortions. Simulation results show that BER performance, in presence of RF non-linearities, for an IR-UWB transceiver architecture operating at W band (with same data rate and bandwidth) are better than a 2-FSK scheme working in a similar scenario.

IKNOW: a Small LEO Satellite for W Band Experimentation

An interesting future alternative to intensively-exploited Ku and Ka bands for high-data rate transmission over satellite networks is represented by the higher frequency ranges such as W band (75-110 GHz). In this context, some experiments targeted to verify the feasibility of W band exploitation for telecommunication services deployment are being carried out. The IKNOW (In-orbit Key-test and validatioN Of W band) mission is an advanced feasibility study within the framework of WAVE (W band Analysis and VErification) project, an Italian Space Agency (ASI) study aimed at designing and developing a W band telecommunication payload. In this paper, authors will focus their attention on the IKNOW satellite mission, introducing both mission and payload architectures, in addition to some receiving chain simulations.

Space and frequency multiplexing for MM-wave multi-gigabit point-to-point transmission links

During last 10 years, the use of frequencies at E-band from 71 GHz to 76 GHz, from 81 GHz to 86 GHz and from 92 GHz to 95 GHz to licensed users has been regulated in US, Europe, Australia and Japan. Due to the large amount of available bandwidth and reasonable atmospheric attenuation, these frequency bands are suitable for very high data rate radio communication for medium to long range wireless links. However, in order to convert the bandwidth availability into real capacity, suitable transmission techniques should be designed. In the present paper, we propose a space-frequency multiplexing technique using FDM, coded modulation and 4×4 MIMO spatial multiplexing for point-to-point multi-gigabit connection in the 81-86 GHz bandwidth. We tested the proposed system, considering different link distances, different values of pathloss and atmospheric and rain attenuations. Simulation results evidenced the possibility of achieving a 48 Gb/s net capacity over 5GHz bandwidth (spectral efficiency 9.6 b/s/Hz) with 99.98% availability at link distances up to 1 Km.

System level comparison of broadband satellite communications in Ka/Q/W bands

This work compares different solutions using Extremely High Frequencies (EHF) for broadband satellite communications. Advantages and drawbacks of each solution are discussed accounting for the most important features needed to achieve very high capacity systems (i.e. multibeam capabilities, bandwidth, signal attenuations and impairments) and the most important features needed for commercial success (i.e. use cases, cost per bit, cost of the terminal).

ICT Applications in Green and Renewable Energy Sector

In this paper a review of the possible applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to the renewable energy sector is presented. Renewable energies are provided by natural resources (sunlight, wind, water, and geothermal heat) through the use of engineering technologies able to collect the energy and to convert it in a more usable form. ICT can play a significant role in this context, especially if it is considered as a whole thus reusing much of the theories developed in other sectors.