Research and Development Projects

Wireless system for information delivery and entertainment in trains

Funded by: 
SETEL S.A., Gobierno de Cantabria (INVESNOVA 2004)
Duration: 
2004-2005

In this project the GTAS group developed a wireless system for information delivery among the different coachs of a train. Basically, the system is composed of an industrial PC, working as a video server, and several devices equipped with wireless 802.11 cards. The system permits the transmission of video, images or other information to passengers, as well as the transmission of other information among coachs useful, for instance, for synchronization between carriages. The system was successfully installed in several trains of the spanish FEVE railroad company.

Software Radio Platform for 4Gmobile Systems (PLASOFTRA)

Funded by: 
MCYT, Plan Nacional I+D+I, (TIC2001-0751-C04-03)
Duration: 
2002-2004

The partners of this project were the University of La Coruña, University of Alcalá, University of Sevilla and the University of Cantabria (GTAS). Its goal was the construction of a software radio platform for the development of radio interfaces for the fourth generation of mobile communication systems (4Gmobile). These systems will demand data rates much higher than those provided by current systems.

Acquisition and signal processing system for the nuclear power plant of Santa María de Garoña

Funded by: 
Nuclenor
Duration: 
2002

This is one of a set of collaboration projects with Nuclenor to improve and update the integrated intrumentation system of the nuclear power plant of Santa María de Garoña (Spain). This project includes hardware and software developments.

Development of linear amplifiers for radio communications at microwave and millimetre-wave frequencies based on modelling, linealization and baseband predistortion techniques

Funded by: 
FEDER/CICYT, (1FD97-1863-C02-01)
Duration: 
2000-2001

In collaboration with the RF research group of the University of Cantabria, the goal of this project was to development power linear amplifiers for communication applications working from microwave to millimetre-wave frequency bands. The work was carried out following two different lines on the basis of the techniques to be used as well as of the frequency band of the system. 1) Firstly, new nonlinear model amplifiers as well as new predistorting and linealisation techniques for low microwave frequency bands (L and C) were developed.

Development of WLAN networks for surveillance systems and multimedia communications

Funded by: 
FEDER/CICYT, (1FD97-1066-C02-01)
Duration: 
2000-2001

In this project we developed hardware components for a WLAN network based on industrial PCs and specifically designed for surveillance and access control systems. A Plug and Play WLAN 802.11 card based on the ISA bus was developed using the architecture provided by Intersil-AMD and known as PRISM. PRISM supports the PHY and MAC layers of the IEEE 802.11a standard.

Mobile Real Time TV Via Satellite Systems (MOBILITY)

Funded by: 
European Commission, (IST-2000-25096)
Duration: 
2000-2001

The basic goal of the MOBILITY project was to provide real-time TV broadcasting services to ships via satellite. A mobile DVB-S receiver was designed and developed. It consisted of three main parts: a high-gain broadband antenna, a pointing antenna mechanism will allow the terminal to track the GEO satellite regardless of the ship movement, and a set of sensors to adquire the information about the ship motion. The project included field trials where the receiver was sucesfully tested in a real maritime scenario. The receiver was installed during 45 days in the Juan J.

Digital Modem for PowerLine Communications (PLC)

Funded by: 
IKUSI
Duration: 
2000-2001

In this project we developed a digital modem for communications through low power electric lines, specifically in the CENELEC A band (9-95kHz), with application to remote control and billing. During the project the particular characteristics of this transmission channel were studied (low SNR, impulsive noise, impedance variations, ...). Also the influence of these impairments in the parameters of the designed modem (shaping filter, oversampling ratio, synchronism, ...).

ASICs for digital TV distribution through SMATV channels

Funded by: 
CICYT, (TIC96-1074-C02-01)
Duration: 
1997-1999

The goal of this project was to design and develop ASICs for distributing satellite digital TV signals through collective antenna systems (SMATV) including the receiver for final users. Specifically, the project was focused on the design of the Transparent Digital Transmodulator (TDT), which performs transmodulation of the signal received at the head-end from QPSK to 64-QAM; as well as for the Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), which includes blind equalization of the SMATV channel, demodulation and decoding.

Nature-based algorithms applied to prediction, decision and communications

Funded by: 
CICYT, (TIC96-0500-C10-07)
Duration: 
1997-1999

This was a coordinated project in which 10 spanish universities were involved. Its goal was to apply techniques such as neural networks, nonlinear dynamical models and genetic/evolutionary algorithms, including their combinations with advanced signal processing methods (based on higher-order statistics, for instance) to a set of selected problems in the areas of medical imaging, bussiness, energy and communications.

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