Wireless communications

lelec2796  2023-2024  Louvain-la-Neuve

Wireless communications
5.00 credits
30.0 h + 30.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Oestges Claude (coordinator); Vandendorpe Luc;
Language
English
> French-friendly
Main themes
This course is one of the last courses in the telecommunication cursus. LELEC2796 deals with the PHY layer of wireless communication systems, along three axes : radio channels, signal processing techniques and communication standards.
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 With respect to the AA referring system defined for the Master in Electrical Engineering, the course contributes to the develoopment, mastery and assessment of the following skills :
  • AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.3
  • AA2.1, AA2.2, AA2.4
  • AA3.1
  • AA4.1, AA4.2, AA4.4
  • AA5.2, AA5.3, AA5.6
  • AA6.1, AA6.3
At the end of the course, the student will be able to :
  • Define concepts enabling to fully characterize radio channels (narrow- and wideband, as well multi-antenna channels)
  • Explain through analytical models and Matlab simulations the impact of the propagation channel and co-channel interference on system performance
  • Describe and compare various multiple access techniques (TDMA/FDMA/CDMA)
  • Explain, via mathematical representations, and analyze receive techniques (Rake receiver, joint detection, OFDM, SIMO/MISO/MIMO)
  • Describe the radio interface of wireless communication standards (GSM, UMTS, IS95/UTRA, 3G-LTE), together with the underlying concepts
  • Present (written report and oral presentation) the results achieved within a group project, consisting in the Matlab implementation of a wireless system in a real-world channel
 
Content
  • Introduction to wireless communication systems
  • Random signals, modulations and detection
  • Mobile transmission channels
  • Multiple access techniques
  • CDMA, Rake reception and diversity
  • UTRA and WCDMA standards
  • Multi-antenna channels and systems
  • MIMO and multi-user MIMO techniques
  • LTE, LTE-A and NR standards
This teaching unit also tackles issues linked to sustainable development and transition through the project, which namely addresses sustainable wireless network design metrics (exposure, energy efficiency, etc.).
Teaching methods
The course is organized as
  • 13 lectures
  • 5 to 6 exercise sessions
  • a 2-3 student group project on network design (python)
Evaluation methods
Regarding the course, the oral (and/or written) evaluation is individual (no book/notes allowed) and based on clearly announced objectives (see above).
The evaluation of the project is based on the submission of an oral presentation by the group (and possibly, of a written article-like report); the acquired project grade holds for all sessions (January and August).
The final grade is obtained by combining the grades of the exam and the project as follows
  • if the 2 marks are equal to or higher than 7/20, the project is worth 1/3 of the overall mark;
  • if one of the two marks is strictly less than 7/20, the overall mark is the minimum of the two marks.
Other information
It is advized to follow LELEC2796 during Master 2.
Online resources
https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=1465
Bibliography
Supports
  • Lecture notes available on Moodle
  • Slides available on Moodle
  • Reference books available at BST and on Moodle
Faculty or entity
ELEC


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Electrical Engineering
ELEC2M
5