Introducing software defined radio into undergraduate wireless engineering curriculum through a hands-on approach

Abstract

A software defined radio (SDR) is a modern radio communication system that can be reconfigured on-the-fly. In this paper, we describe a project on introducing SDR to the Bachelor of Wireless Engineering (BWE) curriculum at Auburn University. Our efforts consist of three intertwined thrusts: (i) We offer well-defined SDR senior design projects, as well as research projects for students supported by the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program; (ii) We also use SDRrelated experiments as term projects to enhance the existing wireless engineering courses at Auburn; (iii) We are developing an SDR laboratory course based on the experience and feedback from the SDR projects, and will test-offer the lab course in the near future. ©American Society for Engineering education, 2013.