Title:

State of Adaptable RF Front-End Component Technology for
Software Defined Radio Applications

Dr. Michel A. Reece
Morgan State University, School of Engineering
Center or Microwave, Satellite and RF Engineering (COMSARE)

Abstract:

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a revolutionary technology that involves minimizing the amount of hardware used in a radio system by incorporating increased software control of both back-end digital processing and RF front end hardware. Currently, NASA is investing in the use of SDR technology to address the need for multi-band, high data rates and power control of space radio systems. NASA has done much work in improving the performance of the radio back-end; however, there is still a need to determine the performance, benefits and reliability of adaptable front-end components. This talk will provide an overview of the state of performance, available technologies and approaches for adaptable RF analog front –end components suitable for space communication applications. The adaptable front-end components to be discussed include the power amplifier, low noise amplifier and filter; in addition, the current progress on their technology development within the Center of Microwave, Satellite and RF Engineering (COMSARE), a research center at Morgan State University will be highlighted.

Biography:

Dr. Michel A. Reece
Morgan State University, School of Engineering
Center or Microwave, Satellite and RF Engineering (COMSARE)

Dr. Michel A. Reece is currently a tenured associate professor and research director of the Center of Microwave, Satellite, and RF Engineering (COMSARE) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University (MSU). In this center, she pursues research in the areas of high frequency device characterization and modeling on transistors developed from GaAs and GaN-based semiconductors, highly efficient solid-state power amplifier design and adaptable analog front-end components design for software defined radio applications. She became the first female recipient at MSU to obtain her doctorate degree in Engineering in 2003. She received her B.S. from MSU in 1995 and her M.S. from The Pennsylvania State University in 1997, both in Electrical Engineering. Previously, she served as a post- doctoral researcher of the Microwave Systems Section of the RF Engineering Group at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Space Department. She has worked at other companies such as Northrop Grumman and Boeing (formerly known as Hughes Aircraft Company). She has a passion for education where she has developed curriculum for the RF Microwave Engineering concentration offered at MSU, the only HBCU to have a dedicated program in this area. She has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University and participated as a volunteer tutor to middle and high school students within her local community.