Name:
Communication Systems Laboratory Upgrade
FiscalYear:
2014
Audience:
Engineering and Computer Science, College of
Submitter:
Aalo, Valentine
Budget Manager:
Asseff, Lynn G.
Project Manager:
Aalo, Valentine A
Dept. Chair:
Erdol, Nurgun
Local IT:
N/A
Dean:
Ilyas, Mohammad
Facilities:
N/A
OIT:
Campbell, Glen R.
Year 1:
$ 46,444.00
Year 2:
$ 0.00
Year 3:
$ 0.00
Total:
$ 46,444.00
We propose to upgrade the Communication Laboratory in the Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (CEECS) in order to support undergraduate instruction and research. The lab is located in Room 508 of the Engineering East Building on the Boca Raton campus and supports two undergraduate courses, Communication Systems (EEL4512) and the associated Communications Systems Lab (EEL4512L). Together both courses enroll about 40-50 students every semester. Presently, the Communications Lab has four (4) computer-based Telecommunications Instructional Modeling Systems (TIMS) stations, which can support a number of communication systems experiments. In particular, the TIMS units are block diagram-based, with programmable plug-in modules to accommodate a variety of communication systems. The PC-based TIMS platform can interface with LabView and Matlab to provide data acquisition and spectrum analysis capabilities, which enable the CEECS department to train electrical engineering students in designing and implementing a wide variety of practical communications and telecommunications systems, and contribute to the department’s accreditation (ABET) outcomes. However, the range of experiments that are presently offered in the communication lab is very limited and, in particular, the enrollment in the undergraduate communications lab course is further limited by the fact that students must attend the lab on the Boca Raton campus. Almost every other course in the department provides an online-option.
With the rapid pace of development and deployment of wireless and telecommunications systems and services worldwide, our students must be better trained to keep pace with this wireless evolution. Therefore, funding is sought to upgrade the Communication Lab. A wider range of experiments are possible if additional and more advanced TIMS modules and accompanying software can be acquired for the lab. Such upgrade of the Communications Lab will not only enrich the two communication systems courses it now serves but also enable the lab to serve the following undergraduate and graduate in wireless and digital systems in the CEECS department:
Course Approx. Yearly Enrollment
EEL 4512L Communications Lab 20
EEL 4512 Communication Systems 66
EEL 4510 Introduction to DSP 70
EEL 4656 Linear Systems 95
EEL 4930 Introduction to Wireless Communications 30
EEL 5500 Digital Communications 35
EEL 6563 Fiber Optic Communications 35
EEL 6597 Wireless PCS 20
With the more advanced TIMS modules, the Communications Lab can be used to engage undergraduate students in their research projects in digital signal processing and wireless communications networks. Typically, about 50% of student enrollment in many of the above courses, and especially, in Communication Systems is online; however, online enrolled in is not possible for the lab course. Therefore, we propose to acquire the hardware/software combination, Nets*TIMS from Emona Instruments, Inc., which will enable distance-learning students to conduct the communication lab experiments remotely, via the internet, and at their own pace. Therefore, this proposal, if approved, will significantly improve enrollment in several undergraduate courses in the CEECS department.
The proposal supports the departmental accreditation efforts of the CEECS department programs, and aligns with two of the 2012-2017 FAU Strategic Plan as follows:
Goal 1: Enrich the Educational Experience – The proposed equipment uses web-based digital communications and signal processing tools to prepare the electrical engineering students for the wireless communications and telecommunications job market. The proposed equipment also expands the CEECS department's teaching lab capabilities beyond the Boca Raton campus.
Goal 2: Inspire Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – The proposed equipment also supports FAU’s Distinction through Discovery initiative by providing enhanced laboratory experience to the undergraduate engineering students and supporting creative research activities from a wide variety of telecommunications experimental options. The proposed upgrade also enables the CEECS department to have the option of including the Communications Lab course among the list of distance-learning undergraduate courses.
Basic Net*TIMS Distance-Learning Lab System
Net*TIMS-Enabled Advanced Modules
TIMS Advanced Telecommunications Modules
?Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (CEECS)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty: Valentine Aalo
Fiscal Year 1 | Fiscal Year 2 | Fiscal Year 3 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hardware One-Time | $ 46,444.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 46,444.00 |
Hardware Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Software One-time | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Software Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Personnel One-time | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Personnel Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Other One-time | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Other Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Totals | $ 46,444.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 46,444.00 |
Filename | Size | Description |
---|---|---|
NetTIMS-Eval-quote-2014.pdf | 68,644b | Basic Net*TIMS Distance-Learning Lab System Net*TIMS-Enabled Advanced Modules |
TIMS-Mod-quote-2014.pdf | 26,279b | TIMS Advanced Telecommunications Modules |