Description of the Research Group

Name: MICROWAVE AND RADAR GROUP (GRUPO DE MICROONDAS Y RADAR - GMR)

Department: Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications (SSR).

Center: School for Telecommunication Engineering. Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Group Director: Prof. Félix Pérez Martínez (from 1992 up to date).

The Microwave and Radar Group is a research group with more than 20 years of experience in simulation and development of microwave and millimeter wave devices. The Group has developed facilities for the design, implementation and experimental characterization of radiofrequency (RF) systems, subsystems and components up to 40 GHz.

The Microwave and Radar Group is part of the Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications Department of the School for Telecommunication Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. This Department has 60 professors, organized in nine research groups, with denominations well established. The Microwave and Radar Group is the largest one. Its composition, lines of research and infrastructure is described in detail later on.

The Microwave and Radar Group has demonstrated a high capacity of generating and transferring technology and know-how through more than 80 research and development (R&D) projects with more than 30 national and international public institutions and companies. A list of these institutions is given below.

The high scientific and technological level acquired by the Group may be measured not only through the different research projects, but also through the technology transferred to different companies. Good examples are the following most relevant contracts of the last five years

In the EUROFIGHTER 2000 macro-project, under contract with INDRA DTD S.A., one of the key elements of the ESM countermeasure system of the aircraft was developed. Basically, this subsystem consists of an ultra-wide-band frequency-agile tunable filter, capable of electronically tuning any frequency within a sub-band, in order to generate the corresponding countermeasure.

A contract with INDRA DTD S.A., has given the Group the opportunity to have an active role in the development of S-Mode Secondary Radar transmitters, in the frame of the project "Optimization of Mode-S Transmitter design in order to adequate it to the POEMS (Pre-Operational European Mode S Station) specifications". The relevance and interest of this research line is evident if one considers the need of a secure and reliable air traffic control. In this context, EUROCONTROL has signed three contracts with three European companies for the development of three experimental stations. The transmitter that is been developed with the participation of the Group is to be included in the Mode S stations assigned to COSSOR and SIEMENS.

In a contract with ALCATEL ESPACIO S.A., the Group is collaborating in the development of the future generation of satellite transponders. In this context, the Group is developing a program for the theoretical design of band-pass filters with asymmetric amplitude response and a study of new microwave filter topologies. The aim is to develop also broadband models capable of controlling and correcting the non-ideal effects of dielectric resonator wave-guide filters

The Group has been involved in the European consortium, leaded by ALCATEL STANDARD, in charge of the "TWIST-Twin Carrier Single Transceiver Base Station for PCS" project. The goal of the project is the development of a base station for the DECT system, using two carrier frequencies. In this way the traffic capacity of the present system will be multiplied by a factor of three. Additionally, the use of DQSPK, a modulation with a frequency-efficiency higher than that of GMSK, used presently, is been proposed. This solution will enable the connection of the DECT system to the RDSI network. The DQPSK modulation has been already approved by ETSIT as the new standard.

Finally, through two projects ("Pilot experience and characterization of a broad- band wireless distribution LMDS system" and "Study, evaluation, and support of the operation conditions of the radiofrequency subsystems of an LMDS system with QAM modulation"), members of the Group have acquired on one hand a broad experience in LMDS systems and QAM techniques. On the other hand the feasibility of such system has been demonstrated. The role of the Group was the validation of the possible use of QAM techniques, as suggested by an USA company (Cable-AML Inc.). This company was well aware of two important issues: the future problems in the use of the spectrum, and the impossibility of present CPE (Costumer Premises Equipment) to operate with such a modulation. The experience acquired by the Group in these two projects has been of paramount importance in the development of the research project, financed by CICYT (Spanish Science and Technology Inter-Ministerial Commission), in which the Group is involved nowadays.

The research training capabilities of the Group have been demonstrated by the number of research trainees obtaining their Ph.D. degree, more than 20, from 1982, as well as by the number of Final Projects (Master Thesis), more than 200, that the members of the Group have advised during these years. The Group publishes an average of more than 25 non- internal papers per year. The members of the Group are active participants in Symposiums, different Committees, review panels, and so on. Finally, it could be added that the Group, and individual members of the Group, have received several research awards.

Composition of the Group: 7 Ph.D. (2 University Full Professor -"Catedrático"-, and 5 University Professors -"Profesores Titulares de Universidad"), 2 Engineers (1 Associate Professor and 1 Assistant Professor), 1 Technical School Professor -"Profesor Titular de Escuela Universitaria"-, 3 Research Collaborators (1 Ph.D., 2 Engineers), 5 Engineers working towards their Ph.D. Thesis, 2 Technicians, 1 Secretary y 1 Graphic Technician. The members of the Group are acting as advisers of other 33 Engineers enrolled in the Ph.D. program of the Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications Department. Additionally, an average number of ten undergraduate students collaborate with the Group.

Teaching activities:

Undergraduate courses:

Communication Theory (2nd Course), Communication Electronics Laboratory (4th Course). Radar Systems, Radionavigation Systems, Radar Laboratory, Radiofrequency Technologies Laboratory, Circuit Synthesis and Filter Design Laboratory (5th Course). The number of students taking courses taught by members of the Group was over 1500 during the academic year 1999/2000.

Graduate courses:

The Group is responsible for an important graduate teaching activity. Namely, the Group teaches a number of courses of the Ph.D. program of the Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications Department (Design and Characterization of Radiofrequency Circuits and Subsystems, Radar and Electronic Warfare, Microwave Monolithic Circuits, Propagation, Radiation and Electromagnetic Wave Scattering, and Aerospatial Navigation Systems) as well as a course of the Ph.D. Program "Future Society Technologies" of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Radiofrequency Subsystems and Technologies and Electromagnetic Compatibility). The Group also teaches the following courses of the Master Program in Communication Networks and Systems organized by the SSR Department and the Telematics Engineering Department of the School for Telecommunication Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid: Communication Electronics Laboratory, Radar Laboratory, Radiofrequency Technologies Laboratory, and Radiodetermination Satellite Systems.

Final Projects and Master Thesis:

The members of the Group advise an annual average number of 15 Final Projects and Master Thesis.

Research activities:

Experience:

The Microwave and Radar Group has more than 20 years of experience in simulation and development of microwave and millimeter wave devices. During these years the Group has developed facilities for the design, implementation and experimental characterization of radiofrequency (RF) systems, subsystems and components up to 40 GHz in thin film hybrid integrated technology, monolithic integrated technology and waveguide technology, as well as for device, subsystem and system simulation, either with commercial or in-house software.

Research lines:

The main research lines of the Group are the following:

Design, implementation and experimental characterization of circuits, devices, subsystems and systems in microwave and millimeter wave microstrip hybrid and GaAs monolithic technologies, waveguide technology, and so on.

Analysis, modeling, simulation, design, optimization and experimental characterization of microwave linear and non-linear devices and circuits.

Analysis, simulation and evaluation of radar and radiocommunication systems.

Modeling of interconnects in high-speed logic circuits of broad bandwidth.

Development of active adaptive antennas for different applications such as mobile GPS receivers, antijamming radiolinks, and so on, including the signal processing stage.

Radar signals processing.

Development of solid state transmitters for radar systems.

Application of Numerical Methods (Finite Differences, Finite Elements, Method of Moments, Measured Equation of Invariance -MEI)-, Mode Matching Methods) to the analysis and simulation, both in time and frequency domain, of passive and active microwave and millimeter wave devices, radiating structures and other electromagnetic structures.

Research projects and collaborating institutions:

As mentioned before the Group has been involved in more than 80 research and development projects and contracts financed by the following institutions and companies: CICYT (Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spanish Science and Technology Inter-Ministerial Commission), European Union (ESPRIT projects), European Space Agency (ESA), EUROFIGHTER Consortium, CIDA (Spanish Ministry of Defense), General Directorate for Industrial Technology (Spanish Ministry of Industry), Spanish Institute of Transportation and Telecommunications (Spanish Ministry of Transportation, Tourism and Communications), AENA, ALCATEL-SESA, ALCATEL ESPACIO S.A., AMPER S.A., CESELSA, COIT-AEIT, RYMSA, COMPELESA, ELECTRÓNICA ENSA, ENOSA, ESTUDIOS Y PROYECTOS DE TELECOMUNICACIÓN S.A., FUNDESCO, GMV S.A., INISEL, IKUSI, INDRA DTD, INDRA SISTEMAS, ISDEFE, NTP S.A., PESA, SAINCO, TELECOMUNICACIÓN Y CONTROL S.A., TELEFÓNICA, TELEFÓNICA I+D, TELEVÉS S.A., TELETTRA ESPAÑA S.A., TELECOMUNICACIONES OPERADAS POR RADIO S.L. (TOR).

Infrastructure:

Computer Network and Software:

The Group owns a local network including two SUN Sparc-Stations, one HP C-200 work station and 35 Pentium Personal Computers connected to the previously mentioned work stations through Ethernet. Commercial software packages for simulation and design of radiofrequency circuits (PSpice, Libra, Xtract, Anacat, SuperCompact), and low frequency circuits (Protel, Orcad, Tango) are available. Commercial (Ansoft HFSS, Sonnet) and in-house made electromagnetic simulators are also available. Thus, microwave and millimeter wave structures and devices may be analyzed, designed and optimized both at the circuital and the electromagnetic levels.

Radiofrequency laboratory:

The Group owns a complete measurement laboratory for the experimental characterization of circuits, devices, and subsystems up to 40 GHz: scalar and vector network analyzers HP8510 C and HP8753E, S parameters test-set HP8514A, frequency synthesizer HP8341B, noise figure measurement equipment HP8970B, noise figure test-set HP8971C, optical test-set HP83420A, sources HP4142B, spectrum analyzers from DC up to 1.5 GHz, 22GHz and 40 GHz, HP8569B and HP8564E, and so on. A Cascade Microtech Summit-9000 for monolithic integrated circuits on-wafer measurements is also available. Equipment for measurements from very low up to very high temperature is also available. There is a photolithography laboratory that allows the construction of hybrid circuits with up to 10 microns of accuracy. A bonding machine for accurate bonding of chips and SMD components is also available.

Library:

The Group owns a library (besides the Library of the School) with more than 250 technical books and 25 scientific journals.