University receives state-of-the-art equipment donation
Published Apr 18, 2013Texas A&M University at Qatar has received a donation of cutting edge equipment which will enhance the University’s wireless research. The equipment, a PXB Baseband Generator and Channel Emulator, worth $ 146,000 was donated by Agilent Technologies Inc..
Agilent’s electronic test and measurement systems offer leading technology for engineering and science research for university laboratories, classrooms and research facilities.
Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO, said, "Texas A&M at Qatar engages in research that will impact Qatar and, in so doing, works to help the State move toward its goal of becoming a knowledge hub. Agilent Technology's generous gift of advanced telecommunications equipment expands the University's research capabilities and supports its researchers as they develop significant solutions to the challenges facing the wireless industry."
“We are pleased to be working with Texas A&M at Qatar and their Wireless Research Lab,” said Benoit Neel, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s European field operation. “As the leader in wireless communication testing, our solutions deliver measurement integrity and great flexibility in a broad solution range making Agilent’s equipment perfect for leading edge research work.”
The PXB generator will be used primarily for academic purposes either as central to wireless research providing a foundation for solving some of the next generation problems in evolving communications standards, or as part of laboratories to advance skills of students interested in a wireless communications career. The unit is most valuable to faculty doing wireless algorithm or related research in which real time channel emulation/fading is crucial to the research.
Dr. Khalid Qaraqe, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Texas A&M University, said, “We are extremely appreciative of strong collaborative relationship that TAMUQ and Agilent's have forged. Industry partners, such as Agilent provide support that allows our faculty and students to perform cutting-edge research while providing industry with information to improve productivity and access to graduates with practical experience.
The N5106A PXB Baseband Generator and Channel Emulator will lets us model the signal-propagation environment with fully parameterized real-time channel emulation. In addition, the PXB will allow our researchers and students to customize test cases and validate designs under real-world conditions for many wireless standards such as LTE, HSPA, W-CDMA, GSM/EDGE. The PBX will allow Texas A&M at Qatar wireless lab to bolster our commitment to leadership in wireless communication research and innovative exploration.
The collaboration with Agilent will help in bridging the gap between the curriculum taught everyday in classrooms and the development of students seeking hands-on experience, fostering research and development into Qatar's telecommunication and technological advancement. We look forward to a continued collaboration with Agilent.”
The PXB is a software-defined instrument that combines multi-format baseband generation, real-time fading and signal capture in a single box to test receiver signal processing. The advanced baseband generation will help engineers working on advanced wireless technologies with baseband development. Engineers often use the PXB as a stimulus to help with RF and baseband integration and validation, as well as interference and co-existence testing for conformance requirements.
The instrument allows customizing test cases and validating designs under real-world conditions. Engineers can also create fully parameterized signals for established and evolving standards with Agilent Signal Studio signal creation software for many cellular and wireless networking standards, as well as digital video and navigation technologies like GPS and GLONASS.
John Small, director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Alumni Relations at Texas A&M at Qatar, said, “Gifts of equipment such as this enable teaching and research with a certain sense of immediacy, or responsiveness, to tools currently in use in industry, and are paramount to the University’s ability to be on the cutting-edge. We are extremely grateful to Agilent for bringing this capability to Texas A&M at Qatar, and partnering with us to fulfill our mission.”
“Agilent is dedicated to partnering with leading universities,” said Olivier Grimaud, Agilent senior sales manager for South Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Our multi-decade relationships have advanced research, yielded new technologies and delivered exciting measurement results.”