F.A.S.T.E.R

FASTER: Full-Stack Software-Defined Ultrabroadband Terahertz Radio Testbed for Tactical Wireless Research Beyond 5G

Despite many recent efforts aimed at studying the sub-terahertz and terahertz bands, the spectrum above 100 GHz remains largely unexplored. These frequencies offer unprecedented, continuous bandwidth for ultrabroadband communication and networking systems while redefining wireless sensing as known today because of the terahertz electromagnetic interactions at the molecular level with the environment. There are, however, no real-time and programmable testbeds available for wireless experiments above 100 GHz as of today. 

This project aims to develop the fastest real-time and fully programmable software-defined radio (SDR) platform for experimental wireless research above 100 GHz. It comprises four programmable nodes equipped with 10 GHz baseband processors, RF transmit and receive chains and directional antennas at 120–140 GHz. Each node is fully programmable, allowing the user to control—among others—the bandwidth, modulation, and coding schemes, and support dynamic medium access control. 

Nodes are not commercially available, but we will build them using a successfully prototyped and tested design.

Using this testbed will enable researchers in the US to develop innovative solutions that utilize the spectrum above 100 GHz for sensing, communication, and networking.

Faculty Associated

Josep Jornet

Stefano Basagni

Kaushik Chowdhury

Dimitrios Koutsonikolas

Tommaso Melodia

Francesco Restuccia