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Radio frequency (RF) engineering involves the application of transmission line, waveguide, antenna and electromagnetic field principles to the design and application of devices that produce or utilize signals within the radio band, the frequency range of about 20 kHz up to 300 GHz. It is incorporated into aRadio frequency (RF) engineering is the design of systems and components that use electromagnetic principles for the transmission and reception of information across wireless and/or wired channels. At NSI, our research is on key components and systems that enable capabilities such as those defined by the 3GPP standards for 5G, 6G, FutureG wireless communications. At the component level, we research phased array antennas, SWaP-advantaged filters, power amplifiers, AI/ML edge compute processors, and RF quantum sensors. This component-level research feeds into system-level research in software defined radios, wireless propagation modeling, digital twinning simulations, and simultaneous transmit-and-receive front ends for radar and communications. We transition fundamental research from CU’s innovative academic departments by use of applied research contracts in service to the USA. To do this, we partner with researchers in CU’s college of engineering and applied science, with large and small defense contractors, and with representatives from the DoD and IC.lmost everything that transmits or receives radio waves, including mobile phones, radios, Wi-Fi and two-way radios.ÌýRF engineering is an important component for those working in aeronautics, telecommunications, military services, commercial radio, television and space-related professions. People use radio waves to communicate on their cell phones, and RF engineers design and implementing the technology that supports 4G and 5G networks.
Missions:ÌýRF communications, LPI/D communications, spectrum operations, electronic warfare
Challenges:Ìýfrequency bandwidth, transmit power, receive sensitivity, miniaturization, system integration, operational resilience, reconfigurability, computational speed
CU Strengths:Ìýwireless protocols, antenna design, power amplifier design, filter design, MMIC design, RF AI/ML design, photonics
