When unauthorized or disruptive signals are present in connected vehicle environments, interference source localization is critical for maintaining channel integrity. This paper addresses the complexities of accurately localizing interference sources when key parameters such as transmit power (TP) and path loss exponent (PLE) are unknown. Traditional methods often assume prior knowledge of these parameters, limiting their practicality in real-world scenarios. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a novel approach integrating geometric methods, clustering techniques using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), and differential evolution algorithms to simultaneously estimate unknown TP, PLE, and the number and locations of interference sources. The proposed approach leverages clustering to reduce computational complexity, effectively identifying unique interference sources though analysis of received signal strength (RSS) measurements. Simulation results demonstrate the methodology’s capability to provide accurate localization even under uncertain conditions, significantly improving upon traditional techniques and highlighting areas for further enhancement through advanced unsupervised learning methods.

Wireless channel sounding using synthetic aperture or virtual array techniques is an emerging area that is not yet technically mature. Most early work was motivated by COST 259 and similar work that focused on directional channels and was conducted in personal communications bands between 850 MHz and 6 GHz. More recently, efforts have focused to systems used to characterize millimetre-wave channels and have been motivated by efforts to extend 3GPP-based systems into frequency bands above 24 GHz. While synthetic or virtual array channel sounders are free from the challenges associated with mutual effects between adjacent elements and much less expensive to implement than fully populated arrays, they can only be used to characterize environments that are effectively static for the duration of the scan. Significant improvements in performance can be realized by optimizing the array lattice and improving the signal processing techniques used to extract direction of arrival information. However, past efforts to use virtual array techniques by the wireless channel sounding research community have rarely reflected the considerable knowledge and insights developed by the virtual array research community.

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In the summer of 1940, following the breakthrough work of John Randall and Harry Boot at the University of Birmingham earlier that year, cavity magnetron model E1189, serial no. 12 was assembled by Eric Megaw and his collaborators at GEC Laboratories in Wembley, UK. According to James Phinney Baxter III, Official Historian of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development, “When the members of the Tizard Mission brought one to America in 1940, they carried the most valuable cargo ever brought to our shores.” The complete story of Cavity Magnetron No. 12, from the circumstances that led to its assembly at GEC Laboratories in Wembley to its pivotal role in the changing the direction of North American radar efforts during the Second World War to its current home at Ingenium in Ottawa, is widely dispersed amongst both published and unpublished sources. Here we present the results of our efforts to survey those sources, resolve some of the minor contradictions between various accounts, and add value to one of the most important items in Ingenium's collection.

Failure of the communication subsystem has been responsible for approximately 20% of small satellite mission failures over the period between 2000 and 2019. Insufficient system-level integration and testing has been cited as one reason why corrective actions weren’t taken before launch to prevent such failures. Our dynamic channel emulator will permit designers of CubeSats operating at frequencies up to 20 GHz to evaluate their spacecraft’s communications subsystem over multiple simulated passes with the spacecraft in as close to flight condition as possible including fully deployed antennas. It will confirm that the communications subsystem will function correctly while experiencing: 1) path loss and Doppler shift, 2) random fading due to satellite motion or rain fading, and 3) noise, interference, or scintillation that perfectly matches what would be seen during actual passes.

For many years, engineering education practice was driven almost exclusively by a combination of institutional edict and instructor experience and intuition. During the 1990's, two fundamental shifts in thinking occurred. First, engineering accreditation boards began to take a more aggressive approach in challenging engineering schools to improving student outcomes. Second, the notion that teaching and learning could be subjected to scholarly research and inquiry took root and gave rise to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) movement. Although SoTL has gathered a large following within the academic community in recent years, integration of SoTL into the engineering disciplines is still in its early stages. While many works have been devoted to SoTL as a scholarly process, relatively few have considered the institutional or discipline-specific context within which SoTL is practiced. Here, we consider how the principles of SoTL can be usefully applied to establishing best practices for teaching and learning within the engineering disciplines, with particular emphasis on our own efforts to fundamental improve the intermediate-level electromagnetics course at UBC. The course focuses on propagation of electromagnetic waves in unbounded media and along transmission lines and waveguides.

Since they were first introduced over twenty years ago, podcasts have become an increasingly popular way of sharing episodic audio content that may include commentary, interviews, documentaries, and more. The IEEE History Committee has recently begun to write and produce both 3- and 15-minute episodes of the IEEE History of Technology podcast based upon some of the over 250 IEEE Milestones that have been dedicated so far. First priority has been given to producing podcasts relevant to the 75 th anniversary of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. Here we elaborate on how we have designed this podcast to incorporate the key elements of podcast success, including: 1) clear and consistent focus, 2) compelling content, 3) engaging style and format, and 4) a regular release schedule.

Underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) represents a burgeoning technology offering high data rates for short-range applications. Recent advancements position it as a promising solution for the future internet of underwater things (IoUT). However, the complexities of underwater environments present significant challenges in establishing reliable UOWC links. Turbulence has been identified as a critical factor, distorting laser beam propagation and consequently impairing UOWC link performance. This survey offers a comprehensive study of recent findings in UOWC under the influence of turbulence, a relatively underexplored area. The first part focuses on turbulence characteristics within the context of UOWC. An extensive literature is provided on modeling turbulence, turbulent channel models, and channel modeling techniques in UOWC. It also explores modeling turbidity in the presence of turbulence and examines the temporal characteristics of UOWC affected by turbulence. The subsequent sections thoroughly discuss the detrimental effects of turbulence and various mitigation techniques. Finally, the survey includes a brief assessment of UOWC systems operating under turbulent conditions. This paper not only presents the status and recent advancements in UOWC under turbulent conditions but also outlines several future research directions aimed at facilitating reliable UOWC deployment in the future IoUT. This survey offers crucial insights for developing integrated photonics specifically designed for UOWC systems functioning in turbulent links.

For many years, wireless channel sounder users have been aware that various hardware and software defects may distort or impair the channel-measurement data produced by wireless channel sounders. These effects may be especially pronounced at millimeter-wave frequencies. It is generally acknowledged that the ad hoc and incomplete verification methods in common use today are inadequate for the task. The IEEE Standard Association P2982 standards development effort was begun with the understanding that its consensus-based approach is the best method to achieve methods that are complete, effective, and economical and which will be widely accepted and adopted. Here, we share how we have applied methods for verifying millimeter-wave channel sounder performance based upon comparison of processed channel measurement data to either theory or an artifact having known characteristics in order to: 1) identify and correct shortcomings in channel sounder performance and/or post-processing techniques or 2) give confidence that a given set of channel measurement data is suitable for inclusion in a pooled database.

Various hardware and software defects may distort or impair the channel-measurement data produced by millimetre-wave channel sounders. The IEEE Standard Association’s P2982 standards development effort was begun with the understanding that the ad hoc and incomplete verification methods in common use today are inadequate for the task and a consensus-based approach is the best method to achieve methods that are complete, effective, and economical and which will be widely accepted and adopted. Past efforts have focused on identifying discrepancies between actual and expected channel responses, but have not incorporated these processes into a formal quality control system. Here, we show how formal quality control can be incorporated into the P2982 vison for millimetre-wave channel sounder verification and thereby: 1) allow more effective identification and correction of shortcomings in channel sounder performance and/or post-processing techniques, 2) give greater confidence that a given set of channel measurement data is suitable for inclusion in a pooled database, and 3) align more closely with metrology practices in other disciplines.

Since its inception in 1983, the IEEE Milestones program has become IEEE's most valuable intangible asset. As of the end of 2023,270 Milestones have been approved and dedicated. At present, however, relatively few existing Milestones fall within the field of interest of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society. Here we review these existing Milestones, identify gaps and omissions, and propose a strategy by which the Antennas and Propagation Committee can increase the number of Milestones relevant to the society while remaining true to the program's goal of being a grassroots movement.

The IEEE History Committee has long recognized the critical role that museums play in preserving our technological heritage and has always been ready to assist museums and other public institutions with an interest in preserving and promoting the history of technology. In recent years, the Committee has affirmed its support for museums and increased IEEE’s presence in the museum space by introducing: 1) a recognition program for outstanding history of technology museums, 2) a virtual museum that later transitioned into first- and second-generation history of technology wikis, and, most recently, 3) a global museum program. The Committee proposes that the next steps include establishing web-based searchable databases that will help: 1) the public connect with science and technology museums with collections of interest to them, and 2) science and technology museums connect with IEEE volunteers who can assist in tasks that require technical backgrounds. Such initiatives will both strengthen the ties between IEEE and science and technology museums, and return significant benefits to both communities.

Stochastic dynamic models of rain attenuation play a critical role in the development of fade mitigation techniques for wireless systems operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. The widely used Maseng-Bakken model is based on the observation that rain attenuation is lognormally distributed and can be modelled as a one-dimensional stationary Gauss-Markov (also known as an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process). A key aspect of the model is the use of a single dynamic parameter, beta, to capture the time variation of rain fades. The model has been used to model rain fading on both terrestrial fixed links and Earth-space links to geostationary satellites, and a form of the model has been recommended by ITU-R. Previous attempts to extend the model to Earth-space links to LEO satellites have been reported, but, without explanation, have used the same value of the dynamic parameter as used in the geostationary case even though the cause of the time variation is quite different. Here, we show how the dynamic parameter can be determined for the case of links from ground stations to LEO satellites by simulating rain fading based on realistic two-dimensional maps of rain cells generated using synthetic storm techniques, estimating the fade slope distribution, and then adjusting beta in the Maseng-Bakken model to generate fading with a matching distribution. This approach has allowed us to reveal the power law relationship between beta and satellite altitude, and thereby correct a major limitation of previous efforts.

On 1 July 1958, the Trans-Canada Microwave System introduced live network television and direct-dialled long distance telephone service to Canadians from coast to coast. Comprising 139 towers spanning more than 6275 kilometres, it was, when completed, the world's longest such network. Later extended and upgraded, the system had an immense impact on Canada's society and economy. Although the achievement has been recognized as one of the most important in the history of Canada and is prominently mentioned in most histories of telecommunications in Canada, a detailed account of its design, construction, and impact has never been prepared. The passing of most of the participants and a lack of primary source material will make preparation of such an account a daunting task going forward.

Connected vehicle (CV) wireless networks based on dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) intelligent transportation systems (ITS-G5), and C-V2X technologies are susceptible to interference from both unintentional emitters and non-CV devices that may be authorized to share the same or adjacent bands. Such interference may lead to unreliable communication and disruption of CV services with a particular impact on safety-related applications. Surprisingly, considering the safety-critical nature of CV applications, there is no simple mechanism for detecting congestion or interference in such networks over wide areas. To address this gap, we propose and demonstrate that both interference and congestion in DSRC and ETSI ITS-G5 networks can be detected simply and inexpensively using capabilities that are already incorporated into the IEEE 802.11p standard, specifically the flags and statistics generated mostly in the physical layer (physical layer convergence procedure and physical medium dependent) state machines. Such a capability could be realized through a relatively minor software upgrade but would resolve a longstanding but underappreciated concern that CV networks are vulnerable to both congestion and a variety of short-range interferers but lack the capability to detect or report this. Although our focus was on DSRC and ITS-G5, similar considerations apply to related schemes such as C-V2X.

The first 3GPP Technical Specification covering service requirements (Stage 1) for the support of maritime communication (MARCOM) over 3GPP systems (TS 22.119) was approved in December 2018 at the TSG SA Plenary meeting in Sorrento. It represents one of several 3GPP initiatives that aim to ensure that future 3GPP/5G systems meet the needs and requirements of a variety of vertical domains and result in a unified communication platform for a broad set of industrial applications. In particular, TS 22.119 has the potential to support both a new wave of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) modernization and broader 5G maritime services. Despite efforts by 3GPP to engage IALA, IMO, and other groups within the maritime community, much work remains in realising the full potential of this effort. One of the strengths of the 3GPP approach is the manner in which common requirements are re-used by different groups. To this end, wherever possible, the groups will take existing service requirements from 3GPP Stage 1 specifications. Maritime is a good example of this principle, with more general Mission Critical needs covered in other specifications, allowing TS 22.119 to be the deliverable that identifies only specific maritime needs including the service requirements for the support of autonomous shipping and the broader digitalization and mobilization of maritime shipping. Here, we propose a framework that will help to reveal new and emerging wireless system requirements for 3GPP systems in shipboard environments. In the first phase, we consider a current ship within which current wireless technology is deployed. Such scenarios are characterized by a limited set of use cases, a brute-force approach to design and deployment, a disconnect between the reference environments for which the wireless technology was developed, and the new operating environment. The result is suboptimal performance with glaring deficiencies. To a large extent, this is where we are today as technologies such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and Bluetooth are deployed aboard ship. In the second phase, airlink and radio resource management are modified to meet the needs of the new operating environment. Different service level requirements are identified, and more ambitious applications are deployed. At this stage, the primary impact is on shipboard operations with relatively little impact on ship design. To a large extent, this reflects the majority of current forward looking thinking concerning the application of wireless technology aboard ship today. In the third phase, ship design & construction are modified, subtly or otherwise, to account for both the nature of wireless propagation and the implications of the enhanced connectivity. In some cases, this may include lessons learned that allow crew sizes to be reduced, perhaps dramatically, in light of significant increases in the depth and sophistication of shipboard automation. We believe that this approach is well suited to bridging the gaps between wireless developers, naval architects, and standards developers, and contribute to the long-term success of efforts such as TS 22.119.

_ For most of the twentieth century, the vast majority of studies of wireless in shipboard environments focused on electromagnetic compatibility between the numerous antennas that are installed on the ship’s superstructure and the high power transmitters associated with them, often referred to as the topside environment. With the advent of short-range wireless data and sensor networks in the late 1990’s, researchers began to assess the nature of wireless propagation below decks and the potential role of wireless personal communications and wireless personal, local area, and sensor networks in shipboard environments. As expected, researchers found that the confined spaces below decks, with their numerous reflecting surfaces and bulkheads, severely attenuate and distort wireless signals and greatly complicate wireless system planning. Moreover, the propagation environment is highly variable and greatly affected by the opening and closing of watertight doors and loading or unloading of cargo and stores. The greatest challenges, however, are that the nature of wireless propagation aboard a given vessel is usually unknown until after the vessel is built and measurements can be performed, and current ship design guidelines and rulebooks offer no guidance concerning design for wireless system compatibility. Here, we review progress in measurement and modeling of shipboard wireless propagation environments over the past twenty-five years with particular emphasis on their applicability to emerging 3GPP/5G and NextG wireless systems. We conclude that although past efforts offer useful insights concerning the physics of wireless propagation aboard ship, they are largely site-specific or anecdotal. As a result, their outcomes cannot yet cast in a form that can usefully contribute to either simulation or design of shipboard wireless networks. Further, although advances in wireless test and measurement technology have somewhat eased the task of conducting link-level measurements and assessing signal attenuation and distortion, such information is insufficient to support design of modern shipboard wireless networks. Accordingly, it seems likely that network performance data obtained from live networks will be as or perhaps even more important as link-level data obtained using lab-grade test and measurement equipment going forward. In response, we propose a modelling framework for shipboard wireless propagation that captures the role of propagation and channel models in simulation and design across the development life cycle (standards development, system development, and system deployment) and thereby overcomes many of the limitations of past work. We further propose a measurement framework for shipboard wireless propagation that captures the respective roles of the two approaches and suggests how such data can be usefully pooled or combined.

The new requirements of context aware environments within the framework of Smart Cities and Smart Regions come with the implementation of the Fifth-Generation (5G) wireless technology and the use of millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency bands. However, signal propagation at these frequency bands also comes with different channel impairments that needs to be completely understood before the design and implementation of a wireless communication system. Therefore, in this work, the spatial and temporal channel characteristics of a typical urban environment have been identified for wireless networks in 30 and 70 GHz frequency bands by means of an in-house deterministic approach.

We have developed a hardware-accelerated Monte Carlo path tracing tool based upon a novel mmWave propagation prediction model. Much faster than conventional tools, it is designed to meet the needs of large-scale coverage and interference studies. The results of initial validation against conventional ray-tracing simulations and measurements in an indoor office environment at 60 GHz demonstrate the merit of the approach. Overall, prediction accuracy was comparable between the two approaches in this scenario, while Monte Carlo path tracing was more than an order of magnitude faster. With further validation and suitable building and terrain data, this method should also be suitable for outdoor and mixed environments.

Previous efforts to develop simulation and/or measurement-based channel propagation models for the effect of human blockage on millimeter-wave communication systems have yielded important results, but lack either accuracy, generality, or simplicity. To fill that void, in this paper we propose a hybrid geometrical-empirical model for human presence; we refer to it as human presence because reflection from the body before and after blockage occurs in addition to diffraction around the body during blockage (as in previous efforts) is incorporated. Specifically, propagation is modeled as the superposition of the main transmission path and reflected and/or diffracted paths from the body; the geometrical component of the model accounts for the phase of each path while the empirical component accounts for its amplitude. To validate the proposed model and extract its empirical parameters, an exhaustive measurement campaign with 120 blockage scenarios, comprising varying human subjects and transmitter-human-receiver configurations, was conducted; a total of 180,000 channel acquisitions was recorded with our precision, state-of the-art 60-GHz channel sounder. The overall model is shown to be computationally efficient yet general enough to accurately represent a wide range of scenarios.