Ao longo dos anos, o posicionamento por satélites artificiais através da geotecnologia Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) e, principalmente, por meio do sistema americano Global Positioning System (GPS), ganhou importante espaço na área de Geomática. A qualidade das soluções está diretamente relacionada, entre outros fatores, ao tipo de receptor utilizado no trabalho: dispositivos mais caros (geodésicos), capazes de gerar as portadoras L1 e L2 ou L1, L2 e L5, produzem os melhores resultados; por outro lado, receptores topográficos que rastreiam apenas a frequência L1 são mais baratos, mas tornam o processamento dos dados dependente de um modelo ionosférico para reduzir parcialmente os efeitos dessa origem. Visando melhorar as soluções de posicionamento com dispositivos de baixo custo e evitar despesas adicionais do usuário que, eventualmente, necessitaria de utilizar aparelhos mais onerosos, este trabalho tem como objetivo principal propor a implementação de uma Rede Neural Artificial (RNA) para estimar as observações da portadora L2 do sistema GPS com base nas observáveis da L1, buscando-se também aprimorar o método de predição destes dados elaborado em outras pesquisas. Para tanto, selecionou-se um modelo de rede através da técnica de Validação Cruzada (CV), estimaram-se as observações a partir das rastreadas tanto em um receptor geodésico como em um smartphone Android, e comparou-se a acurácia das soluções que foram processadas com e sem as observáveis artificiais criadas pela RNA. A técnica CV demonstrou que uma Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) de quatro camadas escondidas e outra de uma camada intermediária são as configurações mais apropriadas para estimação das observáveis do código e da fase da portadora L2, respectivamente. O tempo de aprendizagem em todos os experimentos não ultrapassou poucos segundos e o processamento dos arquivos RINEX de dupla frequência, criados neste trabalho, revelou melhorias significativas das soluções de posicionamento na maioria dos testes, reduzindo os desvios planos e espaciais em torno de 40 a 50% em relação aos resultados atingidos com apenas os dados originais da portadora L1, sendo que em alguns experimentos foi possível realizar a combinação iono-free (L3) e em outros atender a normativa de georreferenciamento de imóveis rurais do Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA). Os resultados apontam, portanto, que a proposta metodológica da presente investigação atua de forma bastante promissora e como uma alternativa ao uso de receptores mais caros. / Over the years, positioning by artificial satellites through the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and, mainly, through the American Global Positioning System (GPS), has become increasingly important in Geomatics. The quality of the solutions is directly related, among other factors, to the receiver type used in the work: more expensive (geodetic) devices, capable of generating the carriers L1 and L2 or L1, L2 and L5, produce the best results; conversely, topographic receivers which only trace the L1 frequency are cheaper, but make data processing dependent on an ionospheric model to partially reduce the effects of that source. In order to improve the positioning solutions with low cost devices and avoid additional financial costs to the user who would ultimately need to use more expensive devices, the main objective of this work is to propose the implementation of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate the GPS L2 observations from the L1 observables, aiming also to improve the prediction method elaborated in other research. This was done by using the Cross-Validation (CV) technique to select a network model. The observations were estimated from observables tracked on both a geodetic receiver and an Android smartphone, and we compared the accuracy of the solutions that were processed with and without the artificial observations created by the ANN. The CV technique demonstrated that a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) of four hidden layers and another of an intermediate layer are the most appropriate configurations for the estimation of the L2 code and phase observables, respectively. The learning time in all the tests did not exceed a few seconds and the processing of the dual frequency RINEX files, which were created in this work, revealed significant improvements in the positioning solutions in all the experiments. The plane and spatial deviations were reduced by around 40% to 50% in relation to the results obtained with only the original L1 carrier data. In some tests it was possible to perform the iono-free combination (L3) and in others to meet the georeferencing regulations for rural properties of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA). The results indicate, therefore, that the methodological proposal of the present investigation acts in a very promising way and as an alternative to the use of more expensive receivers.

O desenvolvimento de fontes de energia renováveis tem se tornado cada vez mais necessário e, nesse contexto, os biocombustíveis têm um importante papel. Este trabalho teve como objetivo otimizar a produtividade de biomassa e de lipídios da microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana, em cultivos de baixo-custo visando à produção de biodiesel. Um sistema de cultivo foi concebido com materiais acessíveis e os experimentos testaram o efeito de diferentes exposições das células ao claro-escuro, sob irradiância de 800?E m-2 s-1. Foram testadas três profundidades de cultivo (2, 4 e 8 cm) e duas taxas de aeração (0,25 e 1,00 L min-1 por L de cultivo). A penetração de luz nos cultivos e o rendimento de biomassa seca foram monitorados diariamente. Altos rendimentos de biomassa e lipídios foram alcançados. Os valores máximos foram observados no experimento com 4 cm de profundidade e maior taxa de aeração: 13,83 g m-2 d-1 de produtividade de biomassa e 20,50% de teor lipídico, resultando em uma produtividade lipídica de 2,84 g m-2 d-1. Estes resultados indicam o potencial da utilização de N. gaditana para aplicação em cultivos de larga escala, uma vez que o rendimento lipídico observado foi superior ao da soja, principal matéria-prima vegetal para produção de biodiesel. O sistema de cultivo desenvolvido pode ser inserido em um processo de scaling up em cultivos abertos de grande escala. / The development of renewable energy sources has becoming an increasing necessity and, in this context, biofuels have an important role. This study aimed to optimize the productivity of biomass and lipids of the microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana in a low-cost system, focusing biofuel production. A culture system was designed with low-cost and accessible materials and the experiments tested the effect of different degrees of exposition of cells to light-dark, under 800?E m-2 s-1 irradiance. Three different culture depths (2, 4 e 8 cm) and two aeration ratios (0.25 e 1.00 L min-1 per L of culture) were tested. Light penetration into the cultures and the dry biomass yield were monitored daily. High yields of biomass and lipids were attained in the experiment with 4 cm depth and the high aeration ratio: 13.83g m-2 d-1 of biomass productivity and 20.50% lipid content, resulting in a lipid productivity of 2.84 g m-2 d-1. These results indicate the potential of N. gaditana for application in large-scale cultivation, since its lipid yield is higher than the soybean, the main feedstock plant for biodiesel production. The culture system developed can be inserted in a process of biomass scaling up for large-scale open microalgae cultures.

Swarm robotics is the study of developing and controlling large groups of robots. Collectives of robots possess advantages over single robots such as being robust to mission failures due to single-robot errors. Experimental research in swarm robotics is currently limited by swarm robotic technology. Current swarm robotic systems are either small groups of sophisticated robots or large groups of simple robots due to manufacturing overhead, functionality-cost dependencies, and their need to avoid collisions, amongst others. It is therefore useful to develop a swarm robotic system that is easy to manufacture, that utilises its sensors beyond standard usage, and that allows for physical interactions. In this work, I introduce a new type of low-friction locomotion and show its first implementation in the HoverBot system. The HoverBot system consists of an air-levitation and magnet table, and a HoverBot agent. HoverBots are levitating circuit boards which are equipped with an array of planar coils and a Hall-effect sensor. HoverBot uses its coils to pull itself towards magnetic anchors that are embedded into a levitation table. These robots consist of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), surface mount components, and a battery. HoverBots are easily manufacturable, robots can be ordered populated; the assembly consists of plugging in a battery to a robot. I demonstrate how HoverBot's low-cost hardware can be used beyond its standard functionality. HoverBot's magnetic field readouts from its Hall-effect sensor can be associated with successful movement, robot rotation and collision measurands. I build a time series classifier based on these magnetic field readouts, I modify and apply signal processing techniques to enable the online classification of the time-variant magnetic field measurements on HoverBot's low-cost microcontroller. This method allows HoverBot to detect rotations, successful movements, and collisions by utilising readouts from its single Hall-effect sensor. I discuss how this classification method could be applied to other sensors and demonstrate how HoverBots can utilise their classifier to create an occupancy grid map. HoverBots use their multi-functional sensing capabilities to determine whether they moved successfully or collided with a static object to map their environment. HoverBots execute an "explore-and-return-to-nest" strategy to deal with their sensor and locomotion noise. Each robot is assigned to a nest (landmark); robots leave their nests, move n steps, return and share their observations. Over time, a group of four HoverBots collectively builds a probabilistic belief over its environment. In summary, I build manufacturable swarm robots that detect collisions through a time series classifier and map their environment by colliding with their surroundings. My work on swarm robotic technology pushes swarm robotics research towards studies on collision-dependent behaviours, a research niche that has been barely studied. Collision events occur more often in dense areas and/or large groups, circumstances that swarm robots experience. Large groups of robots with collision-dependent behaviours could become a research tool to help invent and test novel distributed algorithms, to understand the dependencies between local to global (emergent) behaviours and more generally the science of complex systems. Such studies could become tremendously useful for the execution of large-scale swarm applications such as the search and rescue of survivors after a natural disaster.

Ao longo dos anos, o posicionamento por satélites artificiais através da geotecnologia Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) e, principalmente, por meio do sistema americano Global Positioning System (GPS), ganhou importante espaço na área de Geomática. A qualidade das soluções está diretamente relacionada, entre outros fatores, ao tipo de receptor utilizado no trabalho: dispositivos mais caros (geodésicos), capazes de gerar as portadoras L1 e L2 ou L1, L2 e L5, produzem os melhores resultados; por outro lado, receptores topográficos que rastreiam apenas a frequência L1 são mais baratos, mas tornam o processamento dos dados dependente de um modelo ionosférico para reduzir parcialmente os efeitos dessa origem. Visando melhorar as soluções de posicionamento com dispositivos de baixo custo e evitar despesas adicionais do usuário que, eventualmente, necessitaria de utilizar aparelhos mais onerosos, este trabalho tem como objetivo principal propor a implementação de uma Rede Neural Artificial (RNA) para estimar as observações da portadora L2 do sistema GPS com base nas observáveis da L1, buscando-se também aprimorar o método de predição destes dados elaborado em outras pesquisas. Para tanto, selecionou-se um modelo de rede através da técnica de Validação Cruzada (CV), estimaram-se as observações a partir das rastreadas tanto em um receptor geodésico como em um smartphone Android, e comparou-se a acurácia das soluções que foram processadas com e sem as observáveis artificiais criadas pela RNA. A técnica CV demonstrou que uma Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) de quatro camadas escondidas e outra de uma camada intermediária são as configurações mais apropriadas para estimação das observáveis do código e da fase da portadora L2, respectivamente. O tempo de aprendizagem em todos os experimentos não ultrapassou poucos segundos e o processamento dos arquivos RINEX de dupla frequência, criados neste trabalho, revelou melhorias significativas das soluções de posicionamento na maioria dos testes, reduzindo os desvios planos e espaciais em torno de 40 a 50% em relação aos resultados atingidos com apenas os dados originais da portadora L1, sendo que em alguns experimentos foi possível realizar a combinação iono-free (L3) e em outros atender a normativa de georreferenciamento de imóveis rurais do Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA). Os resultados apontam, portanto, que a proposta metodológica da presente investigação atua de forma bastante promissora e como uma alternativa ao uso de receptores mais caros. / Over the years, positioning by artificial satellites through the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and, mainly, through the American Global Positioning System (GPS), has become increasingly important in Geomatics. The quality of the solutions is directly related, among other factors, to the receiver type used in the work: more expensive (geodetic) devices, capable of generating the carriers L1 and L2 or L1, L2 and L5, produce the best results; conversely, topographic receivers which only trace the L1 frequency are cheaper, but make data processing dependent on an ionospheric model to partially reduce the effects of that source. In order to improve the positioning solutions with low cost devices and avoid additional financial costs to the user who would ultimately need to use more expensive devices, the main objective of this work is to propose the implementation of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate the GPS L2 observations from the L1 observables, aiming also to improve the prediction method elaborated in other research. This was done by using the Cross-Validation (CV) technique to select a network model. The observations were estimated from observables tracked on both a geodetic receiver and an Android smartphone, and we compared the accuracy of the solutions that were processed with and without the artificial observations created by the ANN. The CV technique demonstrated that a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) of four hidden layers and another of an intermediate layer are the most appropriate configurations for the estimation of the L2 code and phase observables, respectively. The learning time in all the tests did not exceed a few seconds and the processing of the dual frequency RINEX files, which were created in this work, revealed significant improvements in the positioning solutions in all the experiments. The plane and spatial deviations were reduced by around 40% to 50% in relation to the results obtained with only the original L1 carrier data. In some tests it was possible to perform the iono-free combination (L3) and in others to meet the georeferencing regulations for rural properties of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA). The results indicate, therefore, that the methodological proposal of the present investigation acts in a very promising way and as an alternative to the use of more expensive receivers.

A literatura de design e de arquitetura sugere a necessidade de realização de estudos mais aprofundados e capilares junto a usuários de baixa renda a respeito da realidade material interior de suas residências, de como se daria a efetiva utilização de bens e objetos pessoais, além de suas aspirações e preferências quanto aos produtos de uso doméstico. Vários autores, neste sentido, ressaltam que a produção brasileira de mobiliário residencial industrializado, também denominado móvel seriado, sobretudo no segmento do consumo popular, não atenderia, integralmente, a seu público principal, concentrado nestas duas faixas socioeconômicas da população. Este alegado descompasso existiria, parcialmente, em razão de designers e fabricantes de móveis populares seriados supostamente desconhecerem as necessidades efetivas dos usuários e as maneiras de interação com seus bens domésticos. Nesta pesquisa, foram investigadas várias situações de uso do referido mobiliário popular industrializado em moradias de usuários selecionados residentes na Grande São Paulo, abordando aspectos tais como: percepções, significados, preferências, avaliações, apropriações, formas de utilização e adequação aos ambientes. Em termos metodológicos, este estudo qualitativo, de caráter essencialmente fenomenológico, mas também observacional, foi constituído pela sistematização e análise associativa de dados obtidos por meio de entrevistas em profundidade semiestruturadas conduzidas com quarenta usuários e doze vendedores. O trabalho de campo foi complementado por observações diretas, produzidas pela pesquisadora, de móveis, objetos e demais arranjos físicos e visuais encontrados nas moradias visitadas e em lojas de móveis populares, com auxílio de registros fotográficos e gravações em áudio. Na análise do conjunto de dados coletados, foram identificados elementos semióticos, estéticos, funcionais, socioculturais e psicológicos, entre outros. Os resultados obtidos permitem iluminar questões efetivas de uso do mobiliário popular, além de hábitos, costumes, preferências estéticas e condições internas das moradias dos usuários participantes. Observou-se, por exemplo, neste sentido, reduzida adequação de parcela significativa do mobiliário às habitações visitadas, bem como presença de improvisações e adaptações a que os usuários comumente recorrem, mesmo em móveis com pouco tempo de aquisição, para que voltem a desempenhar adequadamente suas funções, além de certa resignação de parte dos usuários quanto a deficiências de projeto e de produção verificadas nos móveis, por vezes justificadas, por eles, pelos baixos preços que pagaram. Tais percepções e outros achados disponibilizam, assim, um corpo de insumos para designers e indústria moveleira em geral, sobre necessidades específicas de famílias de baixa renda que encontram, neste mobiliário popular industrializado, sua principal ou única, mesmo que, em casos, precária, opção de compra para atendimento de necessidades básicas de armazenamento de objetos pessoais e de apoio a tarefas domésticas. Espera-se, com esta pesquisa, contribuir para que o projeto e a produção desta classe de produtos ofereça maior adequação ao efetivo modo de vida e necessidades de seus usuários no interior de suas moradias. / The design and architecture literature suggests the need for more in-depth studies with low-income users regarding the material in their homes and how belongings and personal objects would actually be used, as well as what their aspirations and preferences are with regard to domestic products. Several authors in this context emphasize that Brazilian industrial residential furniture production, also called furniture in series, especially in the budget furniture segment, does not entirely meet the needs of its main public, concentrated in these two socio-economic groups. This alleged misalignment would exist partially because of designers and manufacturers of low-cost furniture supposedly being unaware of users\' real needs and ways of interacting with their domestic objects. In this research, several ways of using industrial low-cost furniture in selected users\' homes in Greater São Paulo were investigated, looking at aspects such as: perceptions, meanings, preferences, evaluations, appropriations, forms of use and adequacy of the environments. In methodological terms, this essentially phenomenological, but also observational qualitative study was done by the systematization and associative analysis of data obtained through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with forty users and twelve salespeople. The field work was complemented by the researcher\'s direct observation of furniture, objects and other physical and visual arrangements in the homes visited and in budget furniture stores, and also with the aid of photographs and audio recordings. In the analysis of the collected data set, semiotic, aesthetic, functional, sociocultural and psychological elements were identified, among others. The results obtained provide information about the use of low-cost furniture, and also about habits, customs, aesthetic preferences and internal conditions of the participating users\' homes. It was observed, for example, that much of the furniture in the homes visited was of limited adequacy, and there were often user improvisations and adaptations, even in furniture purchased recently, so that it would more adequately fulfill its function. In addition, the users had a certain feeling of resignation about the furniture\'s design and manufacturing deficiencies, sometimes justified, for them, by the low price they had paid. These perceptions and other findings make available, then, input for designers and the furniture industry, in general, on specific needs of low-income families that have, in this industrialized low-cost furniture, their main or only, though sometimes precarious, purchase option to meet their basic needs for storage of their belongings and support for domestic tasks. It is hoped that this research will contribute to the design and production of this class of products becoming more suited to the lifestyles and needs of users in their homes.

The "Mark V" Holographic Video Monitor ("HoloMonitor") is a continuation of effort and accomplishments to produce a low-cost device capable of reproducing true full-color horizontal-parallax-only computer-generated holograms at typical video frame-rates. While other devices around the world may have greater capabilities, these devices are currently confined to laboratory settings due to their sheer complexity and expense. The aim of this project is to provide researchers and "tinkerers" with a device capable of recreating holographic effects in full color, respectable resolution, in real time, and at a comparatively low cost. The "Mark V" HoloMonitor is a closer representation of a consumer product than any other device of the MIT/BYU series of HoloMonitors. In this thesis, I discuss the complete design and construction of all of the optic (sans modulator) electronic subsystems that compose this device, along with explaining and providing working code needed to drive it in various modes of operation. The main objective of this thesis is to sufficiently instruct undergraduate and graduate colleagues so that they can replicate and build upon this work.

We address the challenge of providing low-cost, universal access of useful information to people in different parts of the globe. We achieve this by following two strategies. First, we focus on the delivery of information through computerized devices and prototype new methods for making that delivery possible in a secure, low-cost, and universal manner. Second, we focus on the use of participatory media, such as blogs, in the context of news related content, and develop methods to recommend useful information that will be of interest to users. To achieve the first goal, we have designed a low-cost wireless system for Internet access in rural areas, and a smartphone-based system for the opportunistic use of WiFi connectivity to reduce the cost of data transfer on multi-NIC mobile devices. Included is a methodology for secure communication using identity based cryptography. For the second goal of identifying useful information, we make use of sociological theories regarding social networks in mass-media to develop a model of how participatory media can offer users effective news-related information. We then use this model to design a recommender system for participatory media content that pushes useful information to people in a personalized fashion. Our algorithms provide an order of magnitude better performance in terms of recommendation accuracy than other state-of-the-art recommender systems. Our work provides some fundamental insights into the design of low-cost communication systems and the provision of useful messages to users in participatory media through a multi-disciplinary approach. The result is a framework that efficiently and effectively delivers information to people in remote corners of the world.

We address the challenge of providing low-cost, universal access of useful information to people in different parts of the globe. We achieve this by following two strategies. First, we focus on the delivery of information through computerized devices and prototype new methods for making that delivery possible in a secure, low-cost, and universal manner. Second, we focus on the use of participatory media, such as blogs, in the context of news related content, and develop methods to recommend useful information that will be of interest to users. To achieve the first goal, we have designed a low-cost wireless system for Internet access in rural areas, and a smartphone-based system for the opportunistic use of WiFi connectivity to reduce the cost of data transfer on multi-NIC mobile devices. Included is a methodology for secure communication using identity based cryptography. For the second goal of identifying useful information, we make use of sociological theories regarding social networks in mass-media to develop a model of how participatory media can offer users effective news-related information. We then use this model to design a recommender system for participatory media content that pushes useful information to people in a personalized fashion. Our algorithms provide an order of magnitude better performance in terms of recommendation accuracy than other state-of-the-art recommender systems. Our work provides some fundamental insights into the design of low-cost communication systems and the provision of useful messages to users in participatory media through a multi-disciplinary approach. The result is a framework that efficiently and effectively delivers information to people in remote corners of the world.

This dissertation investigates the relationship of competition and firms' price responses, by analyzing: i) whether new entry reduces price discrimination, ii) when incumbents reduce price discrimination preemptively in response to the threat of entry, and iii) how competition increases prices. The dissertation consists of three independent essays addressing each of the above questions. The first two essays present an empirical analysis of the airline industry and the third essay presents a theoretical analysis of the credit card industry. In the empirical study of the relationship between competition and firms' pricing in the airline industry, I emphasize the importance of distinguishing the equilibrium behaviors with respect to different market characteristics. Major airlines can price discriminate differently in a market where they compete with low-cost carriers comparing to in another market where they don't, and also they can respond dfferently to the threat of entry depending on whether they are certain about the rival's future entry. The study reveals that competition has a positive effect on price discrimination in the routes where major airlines compete against one anther. In these routes, competition reduces lower-end prices to a greater extent than upper-end prices. In contrast, an entry by low-cost carriers results in a significant negative relationship between competition and price discrimination. Thus, the opposite results in the literature are both evident in the airline industry, and it is very important to identify the different forces of competition on price discrimination. Firms can respond to potential competition as well as actual competition. So, I extend the study to the relationship of potential competition and price discrimination, specially in cases where major airlines compete against one another while facing Southwest's threat of entry. I also attempt to suggest major airlines' motives of reducing price discrimination preemptively. The results of the study suggest that incumbents reduce price dispersion when it is possible to deter the rival's entry and that the potential rival discourages incumbents from deterring entry by announcing before its beginning service. Finally, I examine when competition can increase prices in a market, by analyzing the issuing side of the credit card industry. This industry is characterized by a two-sided market with a platform. Under the no-surcharge rule that restricts merchants to set the same price for cash and card purchases, the equilibrium interchange fee increases with competition. This occurs because issuers can compensate losses from competing on the issuing side by collectively increasing the interchange fee. As a result, limiting competition may improve social welfare when the interchange fee is higher than the social optimal level. In contrast, in the absence of the no-surcharge rule, the analysis shows that competition always improves social welfare by lowering the price of the market.

The advent of deep submicron technology coupled with ever increasing demands from the customer for more functionality on a compact silicon real estate has led to a proliferation of highly complex integrated RF system-on-chip (SoC) and system-on-insulator (SoI) solutions. The use of scaled CMOS technologies for high frequency wireless applications is posing daunting technological challenges both in design and manufacturing test. To ensure market success, manufacturers need to ensure the quality of these advanced RF devices by subjecting them to a conventional set of production test routines that are both time consuming and expensive. Typically the devices are tested for parametric specifications such as gain, linearity metrics, quadrature mismatches, phase noise, noise figure (NF) and end-to-end system level specifications such as EVM (error vector magnitude), BER (bit-error-rate) etc. Due to the reduced visibility imposed by high levels of integration, testing for parametric specifications are becoming more and more complex. To offset the yield loss resulting from process variability effects and reliability issues in RF circuits, the use of self-healing/self-tuning mechanisms will be imperative. Such self-healing is typically implemented as a test/self-test and self-tune procedure and is applied post-manufacture. To enable this, simple test routines that can accurately diagnose complex performance parameters of the RF circuits need to be developed first. After diagnosing the performance of a complex RF system appropriate compensation techniques need to be developed to increase or restore the system performance. Moreover, the test, diagnosis and compensation approach should be low-cost with minimal hardware and software overhead to ensure that the final product is economically viable for the manufacturer. The main components of the thesis are as follows: 1) Low-cost specification testing of advanced radio frequency front-ends: Methodologies are developed to address the issue of test cost and test time associated with conventional production testing of advanced RF front-ends. The developed methodologies are amenable for performing self healing of RF SoCs. Test generation algorithms are developed to perform alternate test stimulus generation that includes the artifacts of test signal path such as response capture accuracy, load-board DfT etc. A novel cross loop-back methodology is developed to perform low cost system level specification testing of multi-band RF transceivers. A novel low-cost EVM testing approach is developed for production testing of wireless 802.11 OFDM front-ends. A signal transformation based model extraction technique is developed to compute multiple RF system level specifications of wireless front-ends from a single data capture. The developed techniques are low-cost and facilitate a reduction in the overall contribution of test cost towards the manufacturing cost of advanced wireless products. 2)Analog tuning methodologies for compensating wireless RF front ends: Methodologies for performing low-cost self tuning of multiple impairments of wireless RF devices are developed. This research considers for the first time, multiple analog tuning parameters of a complete RF transceiver system (transmitter and receiver) for tuning purposes. The developed techniques are demonstrated on hardware components and behavioral models to improve the overall yield of integrated RF SoCs.