Course program
Radio Engineering Elements (30 hours):
• The decision problem in a receiver (10 hours): schematic diagrams of a receiver and introductory concepts to the decision problem, thermal noise and noise characterization of a receiver, decision errors, examples of decision approaches and performance evaluation.
• Filters (5 hours): characterization of filters, examples of technologies and impact on the receiver design, linear distortions.
• Receiver non-linearities (5 hours): Harmonic distortions and intermodulation products, Intercept Points and dynamic intervals.
• The mixer (5 hours): Principle of operation, image frequency, possible realizations, non-linearities and spurious chart.
• Alternative schemes of receivers (5 hours): homodyne and superheterodyne receiver (single and double conversion), frequency plan of a receiver and signal levels, sampling and analog-to-digital conversion.
Satellite Navigation (30 hours):
• Satellite radio-positioning systems – GNSS systems: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO: space segment, control segment, and user segment. Transmitted signals and positioning codes. GNSS receivers. Signal processing techniques: code and phase positioning, ionospheric and tropospheric error correction. Differential GPS (DGPS). Contributions to the errors in the observables and positioning measurement accuracy. “Augmentation” systems and interoperability among navigation systems (i.e: GPS and GLONASS).
• Quality parameters for positioning performance evaluation – Accuracy, availability, continuity, and integrity. Elements of reliability, redundancy, and performance guarantee., continuity, and integrity. Elements of reliability, redundancy, and performance guarantee.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of probability theory, signal theory (deterministic and random signals), circuit theory.
There are no prerequisites for other courses.
Books
• Viewgraphs available at the web site:
https://elearning2.uniroma1.it/course/view.php?id=4418
• For further insights, it is suggested to use the references listed in the bibliography.
Teaching mode
The organization of teaching activities includes lectures and exercises.
Exercises include numerical exercises and computer simulated analyzes.
Frequency
Attendance is optional.
Exam mode
Verification of learning takes place through two tests:
- a written test (30% of the final grade), which includes exercises and tests relating to the operation or performance of radio engineering and radio localization systems or to set the main design parameters,
- an oral test (70% of the final grade) which includes open questions on the functioning of the systems or related processing techniques.
The dates of the exam sessions for the current academic year can be found in the record of the main co-lecturer.
Written test:
- has a duration of three hours,
- contains questions that include: some cross-questioned questions, some open-ended questions, and some exercises on radio engineering and radiolocation systems
Intermediate tests:
- are assigned during the course through the Sapienza e-learning platform,
- replace the first test of the exam,
- remain valid until the September 2021 session included (they are NOT valid for the October / November extraordinary session).
Oral exam:
- Those who pass the written test in a traditional way are called for the oral exam at the end of the written test
- Those who have completed all the intermediate tests and want to use them instead of the written exam, book for the oral exam on one of the dates available on e-learning (below). It is possible to book for only one oral exam date. It is possible to cancel any reservation only before the closing of the reservations. (Attention: those who are not willing to attend an oral test must cancel their booking before the booking period closes, otherwise they will no longer be able to book directly for an oral test and the only solution remains to take a traditional written test)
- if the number of reservations is high (> 20) the oral test for those with a high reservation number, can be held in the days immediately following, depending on the availability of the teachers.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Verification of knowledge on the operation of radio localization systems, with particular attention to satellite systems; verification of knowledge on the evaluation of the performance of radio-localization systems; verification of the knowledge and sizing capacity of a radio receiver for communication, navigation and remote sensing applications.
For each topic (evaluation out of thirty): minimum knowledge (evaluation between 18 and 20); average knowledge (21-23); ability to apply knowledge sufficiently (24-25); good ability to apply knowledge (27-28); ability to apply knowledge in an excellent way with good communication skills and critical sense (29-30 with honors).
Bibliography
• Kaplan, “Understanding GPS”, Artech House 1996.
• Ralph S. Carson, "Radio Concepts" – John Wiley & Sons 1990.
• Giovanni Picardi: "Elaborazione del Segnale Radar" – Franco Angeli Libri S.r.L.
Lesson mode
The organization of teaching activities includes lectures and exercises.
Exercises include numerical exercises and computer simulated analyzes.