Advanced mmWave Testbed for Wireless Communication Security Research and Education
Abstract
As one of the key enabling techniques of 5G cellular networks, millimeter wave (mmWave) communication enjoys wide bandwidths and low latency with great potential for meeting the high data rate demand and low-delay requirements of critical cyber-physical systems (CPS), Internet-of-Things (IoT), military battle eld communications and many other important applications. Existing pioneering research on mmWave communication and network security mainly focuses on theoretical studies with computer simulation-based evaluation. In this sense, the validation of research ideas on an experimental testbed in a real-world wireless environment and mmWave scenarios is unfortunately still rare. As a result, experimental testbed validation is critical for the future design and development of practical mmWave wireless communication systems and solutions. The PIs propose to develop a mmWave testbed with recon gurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) to support experimental evaluation and validation of mmWave networking and security research ideas. Di erent from the conventional Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)- based wireless testbed design, which is constrained by bandwidth and processing speed, the PIs propose to develop a mmWave testbed based on phased array antenna frontends and FPGAs that support large antenna arrays, real-time beamforming, multi-user MIMO, and mobility. The testbed allows real-time signal processing and beam steering in nanosecond timescales, thereby bypassing the communication bandwidth limitations of existing USRP-based designs. Furthermore, the testbed will be integrated with RIS to enable RF environment programming to further enhance the mmWave communication and security performance. The testbed can be easily updated or exibly extended to adapt to more complicated beyond 5G wireless scenarios. This DURIP project complements the PI s ongoing project funded by the Army Research Oce on hardening cybersecurity of mmWave massive MIMO networks at the physical layer, by enabling real-time experimentation and measurements. The testbed will also bene t other ongoing and potential DOD funded projects related to advanced research on 5G and FutureG technologies. It will open doors for further research on 5G and beyond wireless networking and security, including but not limited to, accurate and ecient channel sensing, spectrum sharing in mmWave bands, RIS-enhanced anti-jamming with mobility, identity spoo ng attack detection under mobility and performance enhancement with RIS, transmission security guarantee and protection mobile mmWave MIMO communication, and energy and spectral eciency of rate splitting multiple access (RSMA) with mmWave MIMO. Part of the research results produced from this project will be further developed as training and course materials, which will immediately bene t the teaching of wireless communications, signal processing, and security in the ECE curriculum.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310328
Entities
People
- Kai Zeng
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- George Mason University
- United States Army