Introducing Students to Communications Concepts Using Optical and Low-Power Wireless Devices

James M. CONRAD; İvan HOWITT

Makale detayları

Introducing Students to Communications Concepts Using Optical and Low-Power Wireless Devices

Yazarlar:

James M. CONRAD | İvan HOWITT

Yayıncı:

TUBITAK

Dergi:

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2006 Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.55-66

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2005

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2000744174

Sıklık:

İki Aylık

eISSN:

1303-6203

pISSN:

1300-0632

Özet:

 

Wireless communication has become an important feature for  commercial products and a popular research topic within the last ten  years. There are now more mobile phone subscriptions than wired-line  subscriptions. Lately, one area of commercial interest has been  low-cost, low-power, and short-distance wireless communication used  for "personal wireless networks." Technology advancements are  providing smaller and more cost effective devices for integrating  computational processing, wireless communication, and a host of other  functionalities. These embedded communications devices will be  integrated into applications ranging from homeland security to  industry automation and monitoring. They will also enable custom  tailored engineering solutions, creating a revolutionary way of  disseminating and processing information. With new technologies and  devices come new business activities, and the need for employees in  these technological areas. Engineers who have knowledge of embedded  systems and wireless communications will be in high demand.  Unfortunately, there are few affordable environments available for  development and classroom use, so students often do not learn about  these technologies during hands-on lab exercises. The goal of a  development and teaching effort was to create a low-power embedded  system that could be used to teach wireless communication hardware and  protocols. This paper presents the experiences of introducing  board-to-board communication concepts and hardware into the classroom.   The communication mediums were twisted pair, optical fiber, infrared,  and finally wireless radio. Also addressed are specific assessments  of student skills that were needed as a prerequisite and successes  based on prerequisites. A design of additional hardware is presented. Also, a future class that builds on these tools is suggested.

 

Wireless communication has become an important feature for  commercial products and a popular research topic within the last ten  years. There are now more mobile phone subscriptions than wired-line  subscriptions. Lately, one area of commercial interest has been  low-cost, low-power, and short-distance wireless communication used  for "personal wireless networks." Technology advancements are  providing smaller and more cost effective devices for integrating  computational processing, wireless communication, and a host of other  functionalities. These embedded communications devices will be  integrated into applications ranging from homeland security to  industry automation and monitoring. They will also enable custom  tailored engineering solutions, creating a revolutionary way of  disseminating and processing information. With new technologies and  devices come new business activities, and the need for employees in  these technological areas. Engineers who have knowledge of embedded  systems and wireless communications will be in high demand.  Unfortunately, there are few affordable environments available for  development and classroom use, so students often do not learn about  these technologies during hands-on lab exercises. The goal of a  development and teaching effort was to create a low-power embedded  system that could be used to teach wireless communication hardware and  protocols. This paper presents the experiences of introducing  board-to-board communication concepts and hardware into the classroom.   The communication mediums were twisted pair, optical fiber, infrared,  and finally wireless radio. Also addressed are specific assessments  of student skills that were needed as a prerequisite and successes  based on prerequisites. A design of additional hardware is presented. Also, a future class that builds on these tools is suggested.

Makale detayları

Introducing Students to Communications Concepts Using Optical and Low-Power Wireless Devices

Yazarlar: James M. CONRAD | İvan HOWITT

Yayıncı: TUBITAK

Dergi: Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2006 Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.55-66

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 12/2005

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2000744174

Sıklık: İki Aylık

eISSN: 1303-6203

pISSN: 1300-0632

Sayı

Yazarlar:

James M. CONRAD | İvan HOWITT

Yayıncı:

TUBITAK

Dergi:

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2006 Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.55-66

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2005

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2000744174

Sıklık:

İki Aylık

eISSN:

1303-6203

pISSN:

1300-0632