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Metal structures are susceptible to various types of damages, including corrosion, stress damage, pillowing deformation, cracks etc. These kinds of damages in the metal structures occur mainly due to operational conditions and exposure to the environment. Our research involves a portable integrated wireless sensor system with video camera and ultrasound capabilities which is being developed to investigate corrosion damage on real structures in real time. This system uses images of the metal surfaces, which are captured from an integrated wireless sensor and then quantified and analyzed using computational intelligence. The quantification of the obtained images is done with specialized component analysis software which enhances and performs wavelet transforms on the received images. Through this quantized analysis of the images we can detect and isolate regions of degradation on the metal surface. We believe that the final developed system will allow us to detect damage in metallic structures in its early stages, thereby ensuring proper safety and maintenance of its structural health. This system will further be targeted towards medical applications with capabilities of remote health monitoring. The initial target areas being bone structure and cancer detection and analysis. Applying such a wireless data capture system in these areas will reveal a broad spectrum of the usage of such an application system.

<p>In this thesis we investigate different algorithms for dynamic resource allocation in wireless networks. We introduce a general framework for modeling systems whichis applicable to many scenarios. We also analyze a specific scenario with adaptivebeamforming and show how it fits into the proposed framework. We then studytwo different resource allocation problems: Quality-of-Service (QoS) constraineduser scheduling and sum-rate maximization. For user scheduling, we select some“good” set of users that is allowed to use a specific resource. We investigatedifferent algorithms with varying complexities. For the sum-rate maximizationwe find the global optimum through an algorithm that takes advantage of thestructure of the problem by reformulating it as a D.C. program, i.e., a minimizationover a difference of convex functions. We validate this approach by showing that itis more efficient than an exhaustive search at exploring the space of solutions. Thealgorithm provides a good benchmark for more suboptimal algorithms to comparewith. The framework in which we construct the algorithm, apart from being verygeneral, is also very flexible and can be used to implement other low complexitybut suboptimal algorithms.</p>

In this thesis we investigate different algorithms for dynamic resource allocation in wireless networks. We introduce a general framework for modeling systems whichis applicable to many scenarios. We also analyze a specific scenario with adaptivebeamforming and show how it fits into the proposed framework. We then studytwo different resource allocation problems: Quality-of-Service (QoS) constraineduser scheduling and sum-rate maximization. For user scheduling, we select some“good” set of users that is allowed to use a specific resource. We investigatedifferent algorithms with varying complexities. For the sum-rate maximizationwe find the global optimum through an algorithm that takes advantage of thestructure of the problem by reformulating it as a D.C. program, i.e., a minimizationover a difference of convex functions. We validate this approach by showing that itis more efficient than an exhaustive search at exploring the space of solutions. Thealgorithm provides a good benchmark for more suboptimal algorithms to comparewith. The framework in which we construct the algorithm, apart from being verygeneral, is also very flexible and can be used to implement other low complexitybut suboptimal algorithms.

In this dissertation, we discuss various aspects of scheduling and resource allocation in multi-user wireless systems. This work starts from how to utilize advanced physical-layer technology to improve the system performance in a multi-user environment. We show that by using superposition coding (SPC) and successive interference cancellation, the system performance can be greatly improved with utility-based scheduling. Several observations are made as the design guideline for such system. Scheduling algorithms are designed for a system with hierarchical modulation which is a practical implementation of SPC. However, when the utility-based scheduling is designed, it is based on the assumption that the system is saturated, {\em i.e.}, users in the system always have data to transmit. It is pointed out in the literature that in a system with stochastic traffic, even if the arrival rate lies inside the capacity region, the system in terms of queue might not be stable with the utility-based scheduling. Motivated by this, we have studied the stability region of a general utility-based scheduling in a multi-user system with stochastic traffic. We show that the stability region is generally less than the capacity region, depends on how to interpret an intermediate control variable, and the resultant stability region may be even non-convex and exhibits undesirable properties which should be avoided. As the utility-based scheduling cannot achieve throughput-optimal, we turn our attentions to the throughput-optimal scheduling algorithms, whose stability region is identical to the capacity region. The limiting properties of an overloaded wireless system with throughput-optimal scheduling algorithms are studied. The results show that the queue length is unstable however the scheduling function of the queue length is stable, and the average throughput of the system converges. Finally we study how to schedule users in a multi-user wireless system with information-theoretic security support, which is focused on the secrecy outage probability. The problem is essentially about how to schedule users, and allocate resources to stabilize the system and minimize the secrecy outage probability. We show that there is a tradeoff between the arrival rate of the traffic and the secrecy outage probability. The relative channel condition of the eavesdropper also plays an important role to the secrecy outage probability. In summary, we showed utility-based scheduling using SPC can improve the system performance greatly, but the utility-based scheduling has limitations: the stability region might not have desired properties. On the contrary throughput-optimal scheduling has its own drawbacks: the traffic cannot be handled properly if the system is overloaded. The further study on the secrecy outage probability gives guideline on how to design a scheduler in a system with information-theoretic security support. / Graduate

In this thesis, a comprehensive investigation of the state-of-the-art guidelines for the conducted schemes in the near vicinity of the human body has been provided. The primary objectives of this work have been mainly focused on the electromagnetic (EM) wave exposure at both the microwave and millimetre-wave (mm-wave) frequency bands, along with their thorough analyses for a number of wireless technologies, such as the smart meters (SMs) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. This work has undertaken a detailed theoretical and numerical modelling, as well as experimental measurements to propose the frameworks for the exposure conditions regarding the advanced wireless systems and applications. The employed numerical methods have been validated using the finite integration technique (FIT)-based simulations. The specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions have been determined using the anatomically realistic human models at various frequency bands. In this regard, each human model is assigned with the age- and frequency-dependent (AFD) dielectric properties, based on the novel expressions. This has then resulted in the representation of dispersive and age-dependent dielectric properties, in order to potentially improve the accuracy of the current assessment methods. Moreover, a number of generalised exposure conditions involving the standing and sleeping postures have been assessed for the home area network operating at the microwave band. The obtained results on the study on the SMs have been partly used by the Public Health England to provide the practical guidelines for the improvement of the services provided for the public. Furthermore, an assessment of the MIMO mobile handset has been performed in two exposure conditions, involving calling and body worn postures. Some aspects of this MIMO study has shown higher absorption levels in comparison with the basic restriction limits. A new SAR estimation approach has also been adopted to address the compliance assessment issues at the mm-wave bands. Finally, this work has identified a number of key factors that cause the high absorption levels in the human body and has provided insight into the efficient techniques in order to reduce such effects.

Testing is an integral part of modern semiconductor industry. The necessity of test is evident, especially for low-yielding processes, to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) to the customers. Testing is a major contributing factor to the total manufacturing cost of analog/RF systems, with test cost estimated to be up to 40% of the overall cost. Due to the lack of low-cost, high-speed testers and other test instrumentation that can be used in a production line, low-cost testing of high-frequency devices/systems is a tremendous challenge to semiconductor test community. Also, simulation times being very high for such systems, the only possible way to generate reliable tests for RF systems is by performing direct measurements on hardware. At the same time, inserting test points for such circuits while maintaining signal integrity is a difficult task to achieve. The proposed research develops a test strategy to reduce overall test cost for RF circuits. A built-in-test (BIT) approach using sensors is proposed for this purpose, which are designed into high-frequency circuits. The work develops algorithms for selecting optimal test access points, and the stimulus for testing the DUT. The test stimulus can be generated on-chip, through efficient design reuse or using custom built circuits. The test responses are captured and analyzed by on-chip sensors, which are custom designed to extract test response features. The sensors, which have low silicon area overhead, output either DC or low frequency test response signals and are compatible to low-speed testers; hence are low-cost. The specifications of the system are computed using a set of nonlinear models developed using the alternate test methodology. The whole approach has been applied to a RF receiver at 1 GHz, used as a test vehicle to prove the feasibility of the proposed approach. Finally, the method is verified through measurements made on a large number of devices, similar to an industrial production test situation. The proposed method using sensors estimated system-level as well as device-level specifications very accurately in the emulated production test environment with a significantly smaller test cost than existing production tests.

Ever increasing demand for higher data rates and better Quality of Service (QoS) for a growing number of users requires new transceiver algorithms and architectures to better exploit the available spectrum and to efficiently counter the impairments of the radio channel. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication systems employ multiple antennas at both transmitter and at the receiver to meet the requirements of next-generation wireless systems. It is a promising technology to provide increased data rates while not involving an equivalent increase in the spectral requirements. However, practical implementation of MIMO detectors poses a significant challenge and has been consistently identified as the major bottleneck for realizing the full potential that multiple antenna systems promise. Furthermore, in order to make judicious use of the available bandwidth, the baseband units have to dynamically adapt to different modes (modulation schemes, code rates etc) of operations. Flexibility and high throughput requirements often place conflicting demands on the Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) system designer. The major focus of this dissertation is to present efficient VLSI architectures for configurable MIMO detectors that can serve as accelerators to enable the realization of next generation wireless devices feasible. Both, hard output and soft output detector architectures are considered.

In the last decade much interest has been shown in space-time trellis codes (STTCs) since they can offer coding gain along with the ability to exploit the space and time diversity of MIMO channels. STTCs can be flexibly designed by trading off performance versus complexity. The work of Dayal [1] stated that if training symbols are used together with data symbols, then a space-time code can be viewed as a noncoherent code. The authors of [1] described the migration from coherent space-time codes to training assisted noncoherent space-time codes. This work focuses on the development of training assisted noncoherent STTCs, thus extending the concept of noncoherent training codes to STTCs. We investigate the intrinsic link between coherent and noncoherent demod- ulation. By analyzing noncoherent STTCs for up to four transmit antennas, we see that they have similar performance deterioration to noncoherently demodulated M-PSK using a single antenna. Various simulations have been done to confirm the analysis.

Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εξετάζονται τρόποι μετάδοσης δεδομένων στο ασύρματο κανάλι διαλείψεων με χρήση μίας ή περισσότερων κεραιών στον πομπό ή και στο δέκτη. Αρχικά, παρουσιάζεται το μοντέλο του ασύρματου καναλιού. Δίνεται έμφαση στο φαινόμενο των διαλείψεων μικρής κλίμακας, καθώς και στον τρόπο με τον οποίο επηρεάζει τη μετάδοση. Στη συνέχεια, περιγράφονται τεχνικές μετάδοσης στο ασύρματο κανάλι. Πρώτα εξετάζεται η μετάδοση όταν πομπός και δέκτης διαθέτουν μία κεραία ο καθένας (SISO). Στη συνέχεια, μελετάται η μετάδοση με χρήση πολλών κεραιών στο δέκτη (SIMO) ή στον πομπό (MISO) και εισάγεται η έννοια του κέρδους ποικιλότητας (diversity gain) που προσφέρει η μετάδοση SIMO και MISO. Τέλος, παρουσιάζονται τεχνικές μετάδοσης όταν τόσο ο πομπός όσο και ο δέκτης διαθέτουν πολλές κεραίες (MIMO). Σε αυτήν την περίπτωση, εκτός από κέρδος ποικιλότητας δημιουργούνται και πρόσθετοι χωρικοί βαθμοί ελευθερίας. Παρουσιάζονται, επίσης, διάφορες αρχιτεκτονικές πομπού και δέκτη όπως Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), Maximal Ratio Transmission (MRT), Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) και V-BLAST με δέκτη μέγιστης πιθανοφάνειας (ML), V-BLAST με γραμμικό δέκτη επιβολής μηδενισμών (linear ZF) και V-BLAST με γραμμικό δέκτη ελαχιστοποίησης μέσου τετραγωνικού σφάλματος (linear MMSE). Ακόμη, εισάγεται η έννοια της διαδοχικής εξάλειψης παρεμβολών (SIC) και της ταξινόμησης σε δέκτες SIC (SIC with ordering). Με χρήση προσομοιώσεων συγκρίνεται η απόδοση των τεχνικών μετάδοσης και των αρχιτεκτονικών πομποδέκτη για κανάλια επίπεδων διαλείψεων ως προς το ρυθμό μετάδοσης, την πολυπλοκότητα, τις απαιτήσεις σε γνώση του καναλιού και το ρυθμό σφάλματος συμβόλων και ψηφίων (BER/SER). / Data transmission strategies for the wireless channel are presented that employ one or more antennas at the transmitter and/or the receiver. First, a model is introduced for the wireless channel, focusing on small-scale fading and its effect on transmission. Then strategies for transmission over the wireless channel are described. The single-input single-output (SISO) case where both the transmitter and the receiver employ a single antenna is examined first. Then transmission with multiple antennas at the receiver (SIMO) or the transmitter (MISO) is studied and the concept of diversity gain, which is achieved in SIMO and MISO transmission, is introduced. Finally, transmission strategies are presented that require many antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver. In this case, new spatial degrees of freedom become available, in addition to the diversity gain. Furthermore, transceiver architectures are studied, including Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), Maximal Ratio Transmission (MRT), Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Vertical Bell-Labs Layered Space-Time (V-BLAST) transmission with Maximum-Likelihood (ML) detection, V-BLAST with linear Zero Forcing (ZF) equalization, and V-BLAST with linear Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) equalization. The concept of Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) is also introduced, followed by ordering in SIC detectors (SIC with ordering). Using simulations, the performance of the transmission techniques and the transceiver architectures over flat fading channels is compared with respect to the achievable data rate, the complexity, the requirements for channel state information and the Symbol- and Bit-Error Rate (SER/BER).