Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameIntroduktionskurs i kommunikationsteknik
- CodeSSY121
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerMPICT
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- Main field of studyElectrical Engineering
- DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 13111
- Block schedule
- Open for exchange studentsYes
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0110 Examination 7.5 c Grading: TH | 7.5 c |
|
In programmes
- MPCSN - COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPEES - EMBEDDED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DESIGN, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
- MPEES - EMBEDDED ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DESIGN, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPEPO - SUSTAINABLE ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING AND ELECTROMOBILITY, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPICT - INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory)
- MPMED - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPSYS - SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND MECHATRONICS, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPWPS - WIRELESS, PHOTONICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
Examiner
Fredrik Brännström- Head of Unit, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks, Electrical Engineering
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
A course in Signals and Systems or equivalent, such as SSY020, SSY042, SSY080, or TMA982. Students should be able to apply the Fourier transform, linear filter theory (impulse response, transfer function, convolution) and sampling. In addition, some knowledge in Matlab is recommended since the project is entirely based on Matlab.
Aim
Students obtain in this course a basic understanding of important concepts in communication engineering and an insight into modern communication standards. A theoretical framework for signal analysis and transmission is developed, and it is utilised to design and implement a complete, low-rate digital communication system over some simple channel hardware.
The course is organised with participation of the local communication industry, to prepare students for the expectations and working style that they are likely to encounter after graduating from Chalmers. The focus of this industry-integrated learning approach is on development projects and team working.
It is a broad course that gives an overview of the communications field, paving the way for deeper studies in the field and also serving as a stand-alone course that provides students from other fields with the theoretical and practical foundations of communications.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- Explain the purpose of each of the main blocks (source encoder/decoder, channel encoder/decoder, modulator/demodulator) in the Shannon communication model
- Choose signal waveforms and receiver filters for digital transmission over linear channels with additive white noise but no intersymbol interference
- Synchronise the frame structure, symbol timing and phase of a received signal, and format signals on the transmitter side to facilitate such synchronisation
- Describe and motivate the functions in some modern communication standards
- Derive and calculate the uncoded bit and symbol error rate, including bounds and approximations, for transmission over the additive white Gaussian noise channel (AWGN) for simple constellations (PAM, QAM, PSK)
- Convert continuous-time signals to a discrete constellation using orthonormal basis (Gram-Schmidt procedure)
- Solve a complex task as a member of a project team, by planning and organising subtasks, establishing roles and common values within the team, reporting and delivering results and self-evaluating the process
- Characterise a typical development project in industry and the process for defining, running and closing such projects
- Demonstrate ability, at design in communication engineering, to make assessments with regard to ethical aspects, by:
- describe and analyse possible ethical consequences and propose countermeasures
- apply ethical principles to presentation of results
Content
- Communication systems: Shannon model, OSI model, link budget
- Communications and society: Environment and sustainability, spectrum regulation, designer's dilemma
- Channels and channel models: cables, wireless links, optical fibers; the AWGN channel
- Impairments: ISI, cochannel and adjacent channel interference, fading, nonlinearities
- Selected communication standards: e.g., cellular telephony, WiFi, Bluetooth, DVB
- Receivers: sampling receiver, correlation receiver; matched filter implementation
- Pulse-amplitude modulation: Nyquist criterion, T-orthogonality criterion, RC and RRC pulses
- Bandpass signals: mixers and I/Q modulation
- Digital modulation: properties of PAM, QAM, PSK, FSK in terms of waveforms, signal space, power efficiency, spectral efficiency
- Synchronisation: frame, symbol, and phase synchronisation
- Signal space analysis: signal vectors and basis functions; signal energy, length, distance; theorem of irrelevance
- ML detection for AWGN: decision rule, pairwise error probability, union bound
- Diagnostic plots: constellation plot, eye diagram
- Projects and teamworking: industrial development projects, project organisation, project phases, deliveries, common values
Organisation
The course comprises about 13 lectures, 9 exercise sessions, and 3 computer exercises. The theoretical skills are tested in practice through a teamwork project, which is continuously examined throughout the course. The project is supported by the local communication industry, and the course concludes with a workshop in which students and industry representatives together reflect upon the outcome and learning experiences.Literature
The course literature is decided in June every year and announced on the course website. In previous years, the book "Digital Transmission Engineering" by John B. Anderson has been used.Examination including compulsory elements
The mandatory parts consist of a project and a written exam. Note that since the project (and the distribution points on the different parts of the course) can change from year to year, project and exam points must be earned in the same year (defined from September to August). For example, project points earned one year expire after the second reexam in August the year after.The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.