Mark J. Bentum

An analytical path-loss model for on-body radio propagation

An analytical model for across the body surface communication systems is presented. The paper is focused on the calculation of the approximate path gain, both along and around planar and cylindrical geometries, representative of the human body for antennas polarized normal to the body surface. The model is validated at 2.45 GHz using finite-difference time-domain numerical analysis and in-situ measurements on an adult-male test subject.

Device-Free Person Detection and Ranging in UWB Networks

We present a novel device-free stationary person detection and ranging method, that is applicable to ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) networks. The method utilizes a fixed UWB infrastructure and does not require a training database of template waveforms. Instead, the method capitalizes on the fact that a human presence induces small low-frequency variations that stand out against the background signal, which is mainly affected by wideband noise. We analyze the detection probability, and validate our findings with numerical simulations and experiments with off-the-shelf UWB transceivers in an indoor environment.

Inter-satellite links for cubesats

Realizing inter-satellite links is a must for ensuring the success of cubesat swarm missions. Nevertheless, it has hardly been considered until now. The communication systems for cubesats have to deal with a few peculiar demands regarding consumed power, geometry and throughput. Depending on the type of application, required data rates can go up to tens of megabits per second, while power consumption and physical size are limited by the platform. The proposed communication scheme will combine power-efficient modulation and channel coding with multiple access and spread spectrum techniques, enabling the deployment of multiple satellites. Apart from this, the antenna system has to be designed such that links can be established and maintained independent of the satellites orientation. An electrically steerable radiation pattern is achieved by placing antennas on each face of the cube. Conformal beamforming provides the system with 5 dBi gain for any desired direction of transmission, eliminating the need for attitude control. Furthermore, using planar antennas reduces the complexity of the mechanical part as they require no deployment.

Space-based aperture array for ultra-long wavelength radio astronomy

The past decade has seen the advent of various radio astronomy arrays, particularly for low-frequency observations below 100 MHz. These developments have been primarily driven by interesting and fundamental scientific questions, such as studying the dark ages and epoch of re-ionization, by detecting the highly red-shifted 21 cm line emission. However, Earth-based radio astronomy observations at frequencies below 30 MHz are severely restricted due to man-made interference, ionospheric distortion and almost complete non-transparency of the ionosphere below 10 MHz. Therefore, this narrow spectral band remains possibly the last unexplored frequency range in radio astronomy. A straightforward solution to study the universe at these frequencies is to deploy a space-based antenna array far away from Earths’ ionosphere. In the past, such space-based radio astronomy studies were principally limited by technology and computing resources, however current processing and communication trends indicate otherwise. Furthermore, successful space-based missions which mapped the sky in this frequency regime, such as the lunar orbiter RAE-2, were restricted by very poor spatial resolution. Recently concluded studies, such as DARIS (Disturbuted Aperture Array for Radio Astronomy In Space) have shown the ready feasibility of a 9 satellite constellation using off the shelf components. The aim of this article is to discuss the current trends and technologies towards the feasibility of a space-based aperture array for astronomical observations in the Ultra-Long Wavelength (ULW) regime of greater than 10 m i.e., below 30 MHz. We briefly present the achievable science cases, and discuss the system design for selected scenarios such as extra-galactic surveys. An extensive discussion is presented on various sub-systems of the potential satellite array, such as radio astronomical antenna design, the on-board signal processing, communication architectures and joint space-time estimation of the satellite network. In light of a scalable array and to avert single point of failure, we propose both centralized and distributed solutions for the ULW space-based array. We highlight the benefits of various deployment locations and summarize the technological challenges for future space-based radio arrays.

Measuring the Isolation of the Circularly Polarized Characteristic Waves in NVIS Propagation [Measurements Corner]

Separate excitation of the characteristic waves in the ionosphere results in two orthogonal propagation channels on the same frequency, which may be used in diversity and multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) systems. In this article, a method to measure the isolation between these paths is proposed and demonstrated in a near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) experiment at a frequency of 7 MHz over a 105-km distance. Characteristic wave isolation exceeding 25 dB is measured during Happy Hour: the interval when the propagation path just opens or closes and only the extraordinary wave propagates.

Discovering the sky at the Longest Wavelengths (DSL)

The radio sky at frequencies below ~30 MHz is virtually unobservable from Earth due to ionospheric disturbances and the opaqueness of the ionosphere below ~10MHz, and also due to strong terrestrial radio interference. Deploying a radio observatory in space would open up this largely unexplored frequency band for science in astronomy, cosmology, geophysics, and space science. A Chinese-European team is proposing an ultra long wavelength (ULW) radio interferometer mission DSL (Discovering the Sky at the Longest Wavelengths). The proposed radio interferometer will be deployed in low-altitude lunar orbit, exploiting the radio quietness of the lunar far side. DSL will consist of a mother-spacecraft for data transport and control, plus eight small micro-satellites each equipped with three orthogonal dipoles. These satellites form a virtual distributed observatory with adjustable baselines, allowing different scientific observation strategies. The satellites are configured in a flexible quasi-linear array in nearly identical orbits, guaranteeing low relative drift rates. Short orbital periods and orbit precession ensure quick filling of the interferometric spatial frequency (u, v, w) space, enabling high quality imaging. The science themes considered for the DSL mission include pioneering studies of the unknown and exploratory science such as the search for signatures of the cosmological Dark Ages, complementing current (e.g. LOFAR) and future SKA telescope searches; full-sky continuum survey of discrete sources, including ultra-steep spectrum extragalactic sources, pulsars, and transients (galactic and extragalactic); full-sky map of continuum diffuse emission; solar-terrestrial physics, planetary sciences, and cosmic ray physics. The main frequency band covered is 1-30 MHz extending down to 0.1 MHz, and up to about 50 MHz for cross-referencing with ground-based instruments. DSL will support a variety of observational modes, including broad-band spectral analysis for Dark Ages, radio interferometric cross-correlations for imaging, and flexible raw data downlink capability. Data processing will be performed at radio astronomy science data centres in Europe and China.

An experimental study of UWB device-free person detection and ranging

Passive person detection and localization is an emerging area in UWB localization systems, whereby people are not required to carry any UWB ranging device. Based on experimental data, we propose a novel method to detect static persons in the absence of template waveforms, and to compute distances to these persons. Our method makes very little assumptions on the environment and can achieve ranging performances on the order of 50 cm, using off-the-shelf UWB devices.

Image quality characteristics of a novel x-ray detector with multiple screen: CCD sensors for real-time diagnostic imaging

We have presented the principle of an x-ray detector based upon a screen coupled to an array of multiple CCD sensors. We now focus on the characterization of the image quality: resolution (MTF) and noise behavior in the overlap area. Simple low F lenses likely show distortion which means that not all imaged pixels have the same magnification. This may affect resolution. In the overlap area the image is reconstructed by interpolation between two sensors. Interpolation affects the noise properties so care must be taken in order to avoid that the noise characterization of the reconstructed image mosaic becomes spatially non uniform.We present an analysis of the influence of lens distortion and interpolation in the overlap area on the image mosaic. The image processing appears not to diminish the image quality provided the processing parameters are set correctly. We therefore present a robust extraction algorithm. In order to evaluate in real-time the image quality of the proposed detector system, we are building a 2 by 2 lens-CCD sensor system as a lab prototype. The main interest is on MTF and quantum noise properties. The hardware is designed such that also the lens distortion can be compensated. This enables relative cheap optical components with low F and a short building length. We have obtained and will present radiographic exposures of static phantoms.

Design and realization of high speed single exposure dual energy image processing

At the Department of Medical Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, research on dual energy chest imaging including the algorithm and patient studies is done using a Pixar image processor computer. In the project described here, a study was made of which low-cost system is able to replace the Pixar and provide high-speed dual energy image processing. The dual energy algorithm was analyzed and the user and system requirements were obtained. A single workstation (e.g. Sun Sparc Station 2) does not provide enough processing power. Therefore accelerator boards for the workstation were reviewed. A prototype system was developed, using an i860-based accelerator board, i.e. the CSPI SuperCard-1, in a Sun 3/150 host computer. Bare computer time for the dual energy algorithm was reduced from 25 min using the Pixar image computer to less than three minutes using the SuperCard-1 processor board.<<ETX>>

Vulnerability of Terrestrial-Trunked Radio to Intelligent Intentional Electromagnetic Interference

The terrestrial-trunked radio (TETRA) specification is produced by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute for private mobile radio systems. We investigated the resilience of TETRA against intelligent intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) with low amplitude. Low power signals interfering with the higher layers of the system have the advantage of staying covert. The analysis shows that if the access assignment channel is corrupted, the mobile stations cannot start conversations with the base station. TETRAs modulation scheme is also investigated. π/4 differential quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) is interfered with a continuous wave and a QPSK signal. The results show that a continuous wave created the largest error vector magnitude, but creates a peak in the received spectrum. The power of the QPSK signal, however, is distributed over a bandwidth and is more difficult to detect than the continuous wave in the received spectrum. From this, we conclude that the QPSK signal functions is more effective as an intelligent interference signal compared to a continuous wave. In this paper, it is shown that it is possible to create an IEMI that combines the vulnerability in the TETRA protocol with the QPSK signal to disrupt the service to the communication system, while staying covert.