Science Daily March 29, 2019 A team of researchers in the US (University of Delaware, industry, Columbia University) combined silicon with graphene which can transmit radiofrequency waves in less than a picosecond at a sub-terahertz bandwidth. Graphene has better carrier mobility and direct bandgap and allows for faster electron transmission and better electrical and optical properties. By combining silicon with graphene, scientists may be able to continue to utilize technologies that are already used with silicon devices. The research could add up to cheaper and faster wireless devices in the future. It could make the network stronger, better and cheaper…read […]
Category Archives: Communications technology
Future Communication Satellite
Next Big Future March 5, 2019 The European Space Agency projected the shift from Geosynchronous satellites to medium and low earth orbit satellite constellations. This will drive large changes in the technologies that are used as well as the numbers of satellites, business models and changes to the economics of the satellite business. These satellites are only visible from within a small area (about 1000 km radius) beneath the satellite as it passes overhead. A large number of satellites are needed if the mission requires uninterrupted connectivity. Low earth orbiting satellites are less expensive to launch into orbit than geostationary […]
Data transfer by controlled noise
Phys.org March 1, 2019 Researchers in Switzerland used double-slit experiment to show that correlations indicate how well one can predict, for instance, the oscillatory phase of one light wave if one knows the phase of the other wave. Even if both phases are noisy they can still do so in a more or less synchronized fashion. They have demonstrated that correlations exist between pairs of light waves, which means that the number of those correlations does not increase linearly with the number of light waves, but roughly quadratically. In principle, therefore, it should be possible to transmit six bits of […]
X-rays might be a better way to communicate in space
Phys.org February 25, 2019 Since its inception in 1958, NASA has relied solely on radio communications to stay in contact with all of its missions beyond Earth. NASA is looking at X-ray communications (XCOM) through which more information could be sent with the same amount of transmission power, and less energy needed over long distances. X-rays can penetrate the hot plasma that builds up as spacecraft re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. NASA (Goddard Space Center) has created Modulated X-ray Source (MXS), which will be tested in the coming years. MXS will be controlled using the NavCube to send encoded […]
Computational algorithm to reduce electromagnetic noise in electronic circuits developed
Science Daily January 31, 2019 Researchers in Japan developed algorithm for computer simulation of electric circuits in which transmission lines are connected with lumped element models. They introduced the incidence matrix found in circuit theory and time domain impedance to connect partial differential equations and ordinary differential equations which are used to solve transmission line problems. Based on the results of calculations using this algorithm, the researchers demonstrated that EM noise could be reduced by using the symmetric 3-line configuration of the circuit. Their calculation method is for one-dimensional multi-conductor transmission lines, but they have already developed a calculation algorithm […]
Manhole Covers Serve as Antennas Expanding Wireless Network Coverage
IEEE Spectrum December 18, 2018 High-speed bandwidth, and the use of the millimeter wave spectrum needed for 5G networks barely propagate around the corners of buildings. To overcome this issue, the strategy has been a combination of small cells with massive MIMO antennas to increase coverage. To manage to get all these small cells dispersed throughout a city landscape, researchers in the UK propose using manhole covers as antennas for mobile communications. It eliminates traffic disruptions from street construction, and there are no antennas awkwardly placed on buildings, marring the appearance of a neighborhood. The manhole does not interfere with […]
Laser-pointing system could help tiny satellites transmit data to Earth
Phys.org December 14, 2018 CubeSats struggle to efficiently transmit large amounts of data down to Earth due to power and size constraints. To fine-point its downlink beam, researchers at MIT utilize an uplink beacon signal captured by an on-board detector and tracked by an off-the-shelf MEMS fast steering mirror. As these miniature actuators lack feedback sensors, the system design is augmented with an optical calibration signal to provide the mirror’s pointing feedback. They developed calibration algorithms utilizing the feedback signal to achieve higher fidelity beam pointing control. Experimental results show that beacon tracking errors of only 16 μrad root-mean-square are feasible […]
China is racing ahead in 5G. Here’s what that means.
MIT Technology Review December 18, 2018 In its 13th Five-Year Plan the government describes 5G as a “strategic emerging industry” and “new area of growth,” and in its Made in China 2025 plan, which outlines its goal of becoming a global manufacturing leader, it vows to “make breakthroughs in fifth-generation mobile communication. To make this happen the Chinese government is committed to giving Chinese operators large chunks of spectrum for 5G. Unlike in the US, Chinese carriers will mostly use a spectrum band similar to what they used for 3G and 4G. Under government direction, Chinese companies began conducting research […]
Companies fed up with crappy Wi-Fi are deploying 5G instead
MIT Technology Review November 28, 2018 5G is expected to popularize private cellular networks because it was designed with more capabilities, slash data transmission delays from about 30 milliseconds to less than one and it can be programmed to treat different types of data or equipment differently— favoring mission-critical devices so that they keep operating even if the rest of the network is disrupted. Automakers, oil companies, and shipping ports plan to build private 5G networks for faster, more reliable connectivity. Companies need networking equipment, software, and—most important—access to spectrum…read more.
World’s first single-panel antenna to simultaneously support multiple 5G communications
Phys.org November 29, 2018 Researchers in Japan have developed technology which delivers high-speed communications in excess of 10 Gbps, as required by 5G mobile communication formats. By controlling the phase of signals separately emitted from 128 antenna elements with high accuracy they have suppressed the interference between signals. This enables simultaneous communications in four directions using only one antenna panel. Signals can be varied in both horizontal and vertical directions expanding the communications area. With these developments, components can now be fit on a single 13 cm2 printed circuit board enabling the deployment of compact base stations and high-speed 5G […]