RF Systems Engineering

The conveyance of information via electromagnetic propagation is an organizing theme for much of the research activities at KU EECS. For electromagnetic communications and sensing, the problem essentially is one of maximizing the capacity of this information on transmit, and then maximizing the accuracy of information retrieval on receive. The design of these electromagnetic (RF) systems thus require a complex convergence of engineering knowledge, such as electromagnetic propagation and scattering, microwave components and theory, signal processing, estimation and detection theory, and information and coding theory.

Christopher Allen and student
EECS Professor Christopher Allen helps a student mount antennas on a sled bound for Greenland. KU is leading a global research effort to better understand the polar regions and their climatic effects on Earth.

Program Objectives

  • Understand the propagation of both bounded and unbounded electromagnetic waves.
  • Understand the function of microwave components and transmission line theory.
  • Understand the design and operation of microwave systems, including receiver and transmitter architecture, as well as antenna performance and function.
  • Understand the theory and application of transmitting digital information via electromagnetic propagation.
  • Understand the applications of signal processing for filtering , estimating, and detecting signals in a high-interference environment.
  • Have the ability to effectively communicate complex, abstract concepts.

Associated Faculty

Christopher Allen
Christopher Allen
Professor
 callen@ku.edu
 785-864-8801
 3024 Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

  • Lightwave/Photonics Systems and Devices
  • Radar Systems Design and Analysis
photo
Shannon Blunt
Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor
 sdblunt@ku.edu
 785-864-7326
 Eaton Hall, room 3034

Primary Research Interests

Google Scholar Page

  • Adaptive Signal Processing for Radar and Communications
  • Radar Waveform Optimization/Implementation
  • Radar Pulse Compression
  • Space-Time Adaptive Processing
  • Array Processing
  • Radar Spectrum Engineering
  • Radar-Embedded Communications
  • Interference Cancellation
  • Multistatic Radar
  • Biomedical Imaging

Advisory Positions

  • U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
  • Subject matter expert on spectrum for the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy on America's Mid-Band Initiative Team (AMBIT)
  • Subject matter expert on spectrum R&D for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering
  • Subject matter expert on proactive spectrum sharing for the National Spectrum Consortium
  • AFRL/IDA expert panel on spectrum warfare & communications
  • Subject matter expert on radar/communication spectrum sharing for DARPA
  • Consultant on radar waveform diversity for the Naval Research Laboratory - Radar Division

Affiliations

  • IEEE AESS Radar Systems Panel (2007-2020)
  • MSS Tri-Service Radar Symposium Program Committee (2010-present)
Victor Frost
Victor Frost
Dan F. Servey Distinguished Professor
 vsfrost@ku.edu
 785-864-1028
 Victor Frost's Website
 2054 Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

  • Communication Systems and Networks
  • Networking Simulation and Modeling
  • Wireless Systems
  • Internet Performance Analysis
Erik Perrins
Erik Perrins
Charles E. & Mary Jane Spahr Professor
Department Chair
 esp@ku.edu
 785-864-4486
 Erik Perrin's Website
 2001G Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

  • Digital Communication Theory
  • Advanced Modulation Techniques
  • Channel Coding
  • Synchronization
  • Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Communications
David Petr
David Petr
Professor
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
 dwp@ku.edu
 785-864-8823
 David Petr's Website
 2001C Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

  • Audio Signal Processing
  • Network Performance
Glenn Prescott
Glenn Prescott
Professor Emeritus
 prescott@ku.edu
 785-864-8815
 2052 Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

  • Software Radio Systems
  • Spread Spectrum and Military Communication Systems
  • Radio and Radar Signal Processing
  • DSP Applications in Acoustics and Radio Signals
  • Wireless Communication Systems
James Stiles
James Stiles
Professor
 jstiles@ku.edu
 785-864-8803
 3032 Eaton Hall

Primary Research Interests

All aspects of electromagnetic sensing, including:

  • Radar Signal Processing
  • Radar Remote Sensing
  • Applications Estimation Theory in electromagnetic sensing
  • Applications of Marginal Fisher's Information in sensor Design
  • Ground-Penetrating Radar
  • Wave Propagation and Scattering 

Google Scholar Page

Associated Facilities

  • Optical spectrum analyzer
  • 50GHz microwave network analyzer
  • 40GHz digital oscilloscope
  • Tunable laser sources and optical filters
  • 40Gb/s and 12 Gb/s BERTs
  • Electro-optic modulators, WDM multiplexers, demultiplexers
  • High-speed photodetectors
  • Commercial WDM systems
  • High-speed digital T/R rooftop antenna
  • 360 km of fiber installed for systems-level testing
  • DSP rapid prototyping system
  • Circuit board fabrication facility
  • Logic analyzers
  • Network analyzers
  • Spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and function generators
  • Prototype PC board fabrication tools
  • RF signal generators
  • Communications link simulator- Simulink
  • Variety of DSP and EM design tools
  • Xilinx and Altera FPGA/SoC prototyping systems
  • Synplicity and Xilinx FPGA synthesis tools
  • ModelSim VHDL/Verilog simulation tools
  • Prototype PC board fabrication tools
  • Simulink
  • Computational cluster with over 1,000 processors connected to 37 TB of on-line storage

Associated Disciplines

Associated Programs

Core Coursework (MS)

Courses

Elective Coursework (MS)

Courses

Note:

Other Electives: No more than one MSIT course at the Edwards Campus from the following list.

Courses