Automatic Gain Control (Kat, Eric)
Problem: Using an 8-bit quantizer in a system with large dynamic range
Solution: Let the receiver sense the received signal strength and adjust its gain and adjust the transmit gain via a feedback loop
Technical Problems:
• Learn to program the digitizer card on the fly in Linux
• Power sensing into matlab
• Feedback loop using maxstream radios
Wideband Radio Synthesizer Programming (Kat)
Problem: wideband radio requires manual programming and sometimes loses programming
Solutions: adapt the parallel port interface to allow the node to program the synthesizers on the fly.
Technical Problems:
• Rewire parallel port
• Learn synthesizer programming from Linux
• Integrate power sensing into matlab
Signal Processing (Haleh)
Problem: current signal processing approach is not optimal. Data archival and retrieval very primitive.
Solution: Implement an optimal Fourier processing in the receiver. Standardize data archival and retrieval.
Technical Problems:
• Learn Fourier processing technique
• Develop a data archival format that is efficient and fast
• Implement in matlab
Antenna Characterization and Robotics (Eric)
Problem: Antennas must be characterized for accurate measurements. Robot control and mechanics require improvement.
Solution: Characterize antenna in anechoic chamber. Update robot control software. Finalize mechanics.
Technical Problems:
• Characterize antenna in anechoic chamber
• Mechanics
o Mount new antennas on robots
o Securing on robots for transport
• Electrical
o Standardize wiring
o Provide power to WB radio via node
o Enable battery charge indicators on batteries
o Mount battery charge indicators on batteries
• Better use of radio control communications
• Update robot control software in matlab
Local and Remote Interface (Valerie)
Problem: Primitive Interface
Solution: develop graphical user interface (GUI)
Technical problems:
• GPS interface
• Real time plots
• Experiment control
• Remote interface
Field Testing