As a key milestone in wireless communications, 5G wireless networks are expected to enable not only Gbps mobile connectivity but also machine-type communications for precision agriculture, beyond-visual-line-of-sight unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), connected and automated vehicles, extended reality (XR), smart grid, and Industry 4.0. Besides advanced communication technologies such as ultra-reliable, low-latency communications, 5G wireless networks represent the convergence of computing and networking in many aspects of the telecommunication industry, and they embrace opportunities such as software-defined, open-source innovation and infrastructure virtualization. 5G wireless is projected to reach a market size of $2.2 trillion by 2025, and it has been attracting significant investment from industry and government worldwide.

Through this project, students will learn, develop, and prototype advanced wireless solutions for 5G and beyond. In particular, students will have the opportunity to participate in the ISU-led $16M project ARA on advanced wireless and rural broadband (https://arawireless.org), and “play” with bleeding-edge hardware and software platforms for 5G-and-beyond wireless systems such as free-space optical communications, massive MIMO, mmWave, and LEO satellite communications. Open-source 5G software and hardware platforms such as srsRAN (https://www.srslte.com). OpenAirInterface (https://openairinterface.org), and USRP software-defined radios (https://www.ettus.com) will be available to students in the project.

Students will work as a team and with Prof. Hongwei Zhang as well as other faculty members, research scientists, and Ph.D. students in the Center for Wireless, Communities and Innovation (https://wici.iastate.edu). Students also have the potential to interact with industry partners such as John Deere, Collins Aerospace, Microsoft, AT&T, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular. Information about Prof. Zhang’s work can be found at http://www.ece.iastate.edu/~hongwei.