Research in Wireless Communications

Research Assignment

Wireless sensor networking offers the opportunity to make sensor measurements in harsh environments and remote locations, collect the sensor data at a central repository, and make the data available to anyone with network access. This research project involves the integration of sensor technology, wireless communications, and computer networking. My role in the research project includes data collection and evaluation, and checking out wireless communications hardware.

The hardware to be used in the evaluation was newly designed (Radio Frequency) RF boards for use in a wireless communications transceiver prototype. A software program had to be developed to test the boards for correct voltage tolerances (voltage check-out), accuracy in the files downloaded to the board while making sure it read back matching values (JTAG check-out), and verifying that the SPI lines on the RF board were toggling as desired (RF board check-out).

My assignment in this research is to learn extensive programming functions in LabVIEW. LabVIEW is a graphical programming language that uses icons instead of lines to create applications. It acquires data from any measurement hardware, analyzes the data using a wide variety of built-in functions, and then presents the data using indicators (graphs, charts, etc.). Among many other applications, LabVIEW can be used to measure temperature, voltage, analog frequency, and solve various mathematical equations.

An experimental instrumentation interface was initially created in LabVIEW, but MATLAB was chosen as the software that would be more efficient in obtaining the data that was needed. The Instrument Control Toolbox in MATLAB was necessary for communication with instruments supporting the GPIB interface.

This research, in ensuring that these boards will function as intended, is just a small part of a larger project to accelerate the examination of newly designed RF boards. ORNL staff that use RF boards will conserve time and energy in seeing if the boards are working properly by using this program.