Communication systems
This area covers the aspects of analysis, simulation, design and experimental characterization of communications systems, encompassing optical and wireless systems but also of radar, navigation and positioning systems.
Activities in the field of optical communications systems are focused on fiber optics high-speed transmission systems from long-haul applications to metro and short reach links. Strong competencies in nonlinear propagation modeling lead to the development of a fiber simulator, now part of the OptSim tool commercialized by Synopsys Inc., and more recently to the derivation of the GN-model, now a ubiquitous tool in the area. Expertise in the area of photonic device DET has also access to a large experimental facility, the PhotonLab, jointly owned with LINKS foundation, were performance testing of optical systems and components can be performed with state-of-the-art instrumentation.
Research in wireless communications systems covers several aspects from IoT to 5G: design of microwave and RF circuits and systems for communications, design of reflectarray and transmitarray antennas for communication links, analysis of wireless sensor networks, applications to connected and autonomous cars, application to precision agriculture based on robotics.
In the field of navigation and position systems, research at DET spans from signal processing applied to advanced navigation systems (GPS and Galileo) to the design of algorithms and innovative architecture for receivers. Positioning security and application of GNSS to environmental and atmospheric monitoring are also subject of investigation. Activities are carried out in collaboration with LINKS foundation.
Research in the field of radars cover different applications, from remote sensing to secutiry and automotive. Design, manufacturing and testing of radar prototypes including antennas, MMIC, and signal processing hardware is carried out at DET.