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ECE Computer Operations and Services Center

The department's major computing facility houses two SunFire v880s, one for undergraduate work, and one for graduate and research work. Licenses are run off Sun v100’s in a redundant configuration to provide reliable services.The facility also houses several PC servers, including Dell PowerEdge models 4300, 2500, 2400 and 2200. Residing on the servers are:

• Licensing for different software packages
• Software installers for faculty and students
• Storage space for senior design teams
• A RAS Server: Remote Access Server for dialing into the Drexel network via a modem for faculty and staff
• Data-sharing space for faculty members to share data with one another

Various software packages are available for graduate and undergraduate student use, including Cadence, MATLAB, Maple, Mentor Graphics, and C and Fortran compilers. These applications are also available to research labs in the ECE department. An X-terminal facility is available for students to access these UNIX-controlled applications, as well as several PC labs for access to the Windows versions of the software.

Public Computer Labs

The department has both Windows NT and Macintosh computer facilities available for use by ECE students. These facilities can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the security system built into the student ID card. The computer systems have a broad assortment of applications used for class or lab work, as well as the common applications used for general computing projects.

Research and Teaching Laboratories

The Applied Communications and Information Networking Center
The ACIN Camden Center, Camden, NJ; Dr. Moshe Kam, ACIN Program General Manager; Dr. William Regli, Dr. Kapil Dandekar: Principal Research Invesigators

The focus of the ACIN Camden Center is on the creation and demonstration of
innovative telecommunications and information networking technologies; and
the demonstration of proofs-of-concept for: secure, reliable, user-centered,
wireless communication and networking platforms that leverage these
technologies.

These platforms will support network-based end user applications that end
users can depend upon, in critical missions and operations... where these
networking platforms may be severely stressed or limited by environmental
factors; and where these networks may be under attack by adversaries,
including criminals and terrorists.

Current projects focus on wireless communication in non-line-of-sight
environments using various advanced technologies that employ relaying and
multipath diversity; and the creation of secure, wireless networks to
support teams of users conducting emergency operations.


Audio Processing Testbed
The Audio Processing testbed is a NSF funded facility that consists of:

• B&K 4100 Binaural Dummy Head Microphone: used for high quality binaural measurement for testing human auditory perception.
• 24-bit stereo DAT Recorder: high quality 2-channel digital audio recorder/player.
• 8-channel out/2-channel in PC audio card: enables a PC to output multiple channels to multiple speakers for multi-speaker audio reproduction.
• 3 measurement quality microphones: individual omni-directional microphones for measuring sound at a particular location.
• 2 speakers: used for producing test signals for measurement.
• Mixer/pre-amplifier: low-noise professional analog mixer used to control and adjust gains and attenuation of signals from microphones to recording equipment and to speakers.

Center for Microwave/Lightwave Engineering
Director: Dr. Peter Herczfeld, 215-895-2256
The goal of this newly established Center is to establish a premier research and education center for the advancement of microwave-lightwave engineering. Microwaves and photonics are among the fastest growing disciplines in engineering. The extensive national effort in monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) will have a profound effect on high-speed, high-frequency analog and digital systems. The heart of this facility is the HP 8510 network analyzer, a Tektronics Spectrum Analyzer, various power meters, high-sensitivity microwave bridges, and a variety of active and passive components. There are facilities to fabricate and test hybrid microwave and millimeter wave circuits. The optical equipment includes five optical tables, an assortment of computer-controlled positioners, high-precision positioners, dye laser, pulsed flag laser, a number of high-speed semiconductor lasers and detectors, CCD cameras, and an image processing facility. Several CAD programs such as Touchstone and Supercompact are available for research and teaching.

Cleanroom Microfabrication Facility
Room 6-334/334A
The ECE Department Cleanroom facility is used to develop novel microelectronic materials, processes, and devices. It encompasses an area of 1,800 square feet with a rating of Class 10,000. The cleanroom contains a variety of thin film manufacturing and diagnostic equipment, such as thin film evaporators, a diffusion furnace, photoresist spinner, mask aligners, wafer scribing and dicing equipment, and an ellipsometer. Additional equipment suitable for the manufacture and packaging of hybrid circuits is also available. Device characterization and testing equipment is also available and includes a computerized station with femto-Farad and pico-Amp resolution. Faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students use the facility in their research and education programs.

Communications and Signal Processing Laboratory (CSPL)
Dr. Athina P. Petropulu, 215-895-2358
The lab equipment has been purchased through funding from the National Science Foundation, the US Army, The Whitaker Foundation, the National Institute of Health and support from Drexel University. It includes:

• SUN Ultra ENTERPRISE 2, Dual-200 MHz processors, 8.6 GB Hard Disk, 256 MB RAM, Exabyte 8505/XL Tape Drive (6-14 GB), CD-ROM (internal), Floppy Disk (1.4 MB internal), color monitor, Solaris 2.5.1.
• SUN Ultra 1, 147 MHz Processor, 2 GB Hard Disk Space, 64 MB RAM, color monitor, Solaris 2.5.1.
• SUN SparcStation 5, 110 MHz processor, 64 MB RAM, 1.2 GB Hard Disk, CD-ROM (external), color monitor, Solaris 2.5.
• Dell Dimension XT550, 550MHz Pentium III processor, 364MB RAM, 64MB Video Memory, 18 GB SCSI Hard Driver, 19' Trinitron monitor, 2X4 CDRW, soundblaster with 32MB on board memory, Windows NT OS.
• SUN Ultra 10 workstation (300 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 8.6 GB hard disk, 21'' color monitor, Creator 3D video card, Solaris 2.5.1).
• HP LaserJet 4000 TN printer.
• Three (3) HDS @work Supra-66 17CH X-terminals, color monitor, 16 MB RAM.
• APPLE LaserWriter 16/600 PS.

Computer Communications Laboratory
Dr. Harish Sethu, 215-895-5876
The Computer Communications Laboratory, founded in 1999, conducts both fundamental and applied research in the design and analysis of protocols, architectures, and algorithms in computer networks. Research efforts in this laboratory have primarily focused on performance and quality of service with applications to computer networks at all scales, from interconnection networks of parallel computer systems and web servers to large-scale distributed networks such as the Internet. Specific areas of research include fair traffic management strategies for best-effort as well as real-time applications, switch and router architectures, and quality of service in mobile ad hoc networks. Some recent efforts have also focused on other areas of research such as sensor networks, practical pricing strategies for the Internet, network security issues beyond cryptography, and large-scale dynamics of the Internet. Housed in Room 502 of the Commonwealth Hall, the laboratory is equipped with several high-end workstations and continues to expand its computational facilities. Primary sponsors of the research in this laboratory include NSF, DARPA, Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Data Fusion Laboratory
Dr. Moshe Kam, 215-895-6920, Dr. Paul Kalata, 215-895-2251, Dr. Leonid Hrebein 215-895-6755
The Data Fusion Laboratory investigates problems in multisensor detection and estimation with applications in digital communications, radar, and target tracking. Among the projects in progress: computationally efficient parallel distributed detection, modulation recognition in digital communications over fading channels, neural network synthesis for pattern recognition, and hardware realization of a data fusion center for binary detection and target tracking. The laboratory also participates in joint efforts with the Power Systems Laboratory to develop automatic contingency selection algorithms using combined neural network/expert system architectures.

Electric Power Engineering Center
Room 2-048, Dr. Karen Miu, 215-895-6207, Dr. Dagmar Niebur, 215-895-6749, Dr. Chika Nwankpa, 215-895-2218
This newly established facility makes possible state-of-the-art research in a wide variety of areas, ranging from detailed theoretical model study to experimental investigation in its high voltage laboratories. The mission is to advance and apply scientific and engineering knowledge associated with the generation, transmission, distribution, use, and conservation of electric power. In pursuing these goals, this center works with electric utilities, state and federal agencies, private industries, nonprofit organizations and other universities on a wide spectrum of projects. Research efforts, both theoretical and experimental, focus on the solution of those problems currently faced by the electric power industry. Advanced concepts for electric power generation are also under investigation to ensure that electric power needs will be met at the present and in the future.

Microwave-Photonics Device Laboratories
Dr. Afshin Daryoush, 215-895-2362
The laboratory is equipped with fiber-optic and optical equipment such as high-speed semiconductor laser diodes up to 20 GHz, traveling wave MZ modulators with bandwidth of 18Ghz, and high-speed pin photodiode up to 25 GHz in 680 nm, 780nm, 820nm, 1300nm, and 1500nm range. A fiber etching platform and fusion splice is also available to make lenses on single-mode and multimode fibers. Additional passive components such as translation micropositioners, single-mode and multi-mode 3dB optical couplers, optical switches, fiber-optic polishing and connectorizing equipment, optical spectrum analyzer, scanning F-P and optical power meters. Microwave test equipment such as Agilent network analyzer, HP synthesized sources, Rohde-Schwartz signal generators, Tektronix and HP spectrum analyzers, power meters, and assortment of passive and active microwave components up to 40 GHz. Intercontinental test fixtures are used for testing of MMIC circuits and solid-state transistors. Furthermore, a specialized test fixture is developed for testing of ASIC circuits up to 10 GB/s. Our computer facilities are based on x-terminals connected to servers that support state-of-the-art microwave and electromagnetic CAD packages such as ADS, Ansoft HFSS, and Cadence.

Millimeterwave/Lightwave Engineering Laboratory
Dr. Peter Herczfeld, 215-895-2256, Dr. Afshin Daryoush, 215-895-2362
This laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art test equipment for the characterization of electrical and optical passive and active circuits. Facilities include HP8510 automated vector network analyzer (45MHZ–26.5GHZ), Tektronix 7854 computer controlled TDR/sampler scope with 25ps resolution, Tektronix 2756P GPIB controllable spectrum analyzer with external mixers up to 60 GHz, Tektronix 7L18 spectrum analyzer and associated external mixers up to 60 GHz, synthesized sweeper HP8340B and sweep oscillator HP8350 (10 KHz–26.5 GHz), synthesized attenuators, and passive microwave and millimeter wave components. There are a GPIB-controlled optical spectrum analyzer covering 600–1750nm with resolution of 0.1nm from Ando, focusing aspherical lenses, laser diode collimating lenses, and assortments of interference filters and neutral density filters, and a scanning Fabry-Perot. The laboratory is also equipped with a tunable dye laser diode (500–960nm) and a pulsed Nd-YAG laser from Spectra Physics for semiconductor device characterizations.

Power Electronics Research Laboratory
Room 2-048, Dr. Chika Nwankpa, 215-895-2218
The Power Electronics Research Laboratory (PERL) is involved in circuit and design simulation, device modeling and simulation, and experimental testing and fabrication of power electronic circuits. The research and development activities include electrical terminations, power quality, solar photovoltaic systems, GTO modeling, protection and relay coordination, and solid-state circuit breakers. The analysis tools include EMPT, SPICE, and others, which have been modified to incorporate models of such controllable solid-state switches as SCRs, GTOs, and MOSFETs. These programs have a wide variety and range of modeling capabilities used to model electromagnetics and electromechanical transients ranging from microseconds to seconds in duration. The PERL is a fully equipped laboratory with 42 kVA AC and 70 kVA DC power sources and data acquisition systems, which have the ability to display and store data for detailed analysis. Some of the equipment available is a distribution and HV transformer and three phase rectifiers for power sources and digital oscilloscopes for data measuring and experimental analysis. Some of the recent studies performed by the PERL include static VAR compensators, power quality of motor controllers, solid-state circuit breakers, and power device modeling which have been supported by PECO, GE, Gould, and EPRI.


Supervisory Control Laboratory
Dr. Moshe Kam, 215-895-6920
The Supervisory Control Laboratory investigates large-scale dynamic systems and robotic plants, using techniques that are imported from the disciplines of control theory and computer science. Special emphasis is given to control via the formulation of discrete event systems with applications in power system and complex manufacturing processes. Several physical plants are used for concept demonstration and algorithm verification, among them a hopping robotic leg and a mobile autonomous robot. Major funding for the laboratory’s activities comes from the NSF and from EPRI.

Ultrasound Transducer Research Facility
Dr. Peter Lewin, 215-895-2361
This 600-square-foot facility has water, work benches for electronic construction and testing, computer controlled scanning tanks, and a broad range of modern test high speed digitizers, ultrasound pulsers and receivers, digital oscilloscopes, and micro/minicomputers. Moreover, there is distilled water supply equipment, experimental shock wave generator, and several calibrated miniature PVDF receivers together with standard pulse-echo imaging transducers. The piezoelectric receivers include both wideband needle-type hydrophone probe and a spot poled membrane hydrophone developed for both calibration and testing, and the shock wave measurements.

Comprehensive acoustic characterization of the transducers and materials can be carried out using Time Delay Spectrometry (TDS) measurement set-up. Small workshop facilities are established in the laboratory allowing prototype transducer assembly. In addition, there is a high-voltage poling facility.

VLSI Design Facility
Dr. Prawat Nagvajara, 215-895-2378
This facility is dedicated to custom and standard cell designs. Equipment includes two Valid Logic Systems workstations for layout, schematic capture and simulation, eight-pen plotter, and line printer. Technologies supported include CMOS, NMOS, and hybrid circuits. Participation in MOSIS facilitates the fabrication of devices.

Wireless Communications Testbed
Room 7-209, Dr. Kapil Dandekar 215-895-2004
This NSF and U.S Army funded research facility consists of two mobile base receiver station and six transmitters. Its goal is to create a realistic wireless communications environment by providing remote, multi-point signal transmission of various formats such as voice, video, and data as well as providing for signal reception and analysis. It includes:

Five signal generators (HP- E4431B 250kHz - 2GHz)
Each generator comes with option UN8 that besides the standard modulation schemes allows for custom modulation, and also option UND that allows for arbitrary waveform generation.

ESG Vector Signal Generator (Agilent E4438C)
This Vector Signal Generator provides wide RF modulation (analog and digital modulation with standard and custom formats) bandwidth of 160 MHz with external I/Q inputs or 80 MHz RF modulation bandwidth using internal baseband generator, fast sample rate of 100 MHz with 16 bit, 400 MHz DACs, and large memory of 6 GBytes for waveform storage which are key for evaluating the performance of 2.5G, 3G and broadband wireless communications systems and components. This Vector Signal generator also offers frequency coverage up to 6GHz,which meets the specific requirements of wireless LAN.

PC-based waveform generator (HP-E2747A Option 001)

Two Vector Signal Analyzers (Agilent 89610A dc-40 MHz, Agilent 89605A dc-39 MHz)

Agilent 89610A dc-40 MHz:
This is a PC-based vector signal analyzer (VSA) providing 39 MHz bandwidth for measurement of baseband signals from dc to 40 MHz. It provides an optional second channel for direct I&Q inputs: the analyzer’s channel 1 + j* channel 2 mode allows analysis bandwidths up to 78 MHz and when used with an external down converter, enables wideband vector signal analysis above the 2.7 GHz range. Key features include: flexible demodulation, unique error analysis tools, adaptive equalization capability, data measurement from hardware and simulations created by math tools, such as MATLAB and MathCAD, ability to create "virtual hardware" to substitute for block diagram elements not yet realized in hardware and time capture capability to record signals or transients for re-analysis later. Options: AYA (Vector Modulation Analyzer), B7N (W-CDMA and cdma2000 modulation analysis),B7R(802.11 and HIPERLAN/2 OFDM Modulation Analysis).

Agilent 89605A dc-39MHz:
This is a PC based vector signal analyzer (VSA) with a single channel option. It has applications such as LMDS or wideband wireless LAN design, or signal monitoring applications such as satellite or surveillance. Options: AYA and B7N, 100,105.

• Seven OpenAir PC cards (Proxim Harmony 7430 Series - model 7431). This PC Card is a wireless LAN Adapter that supports IEEE 802.11b wireless standard.
• Eleven ORiNOCO PC Cards (Lucent Technologies). This PC Card is a wireless LAN Adapter that supports IEEE 802.11b wireless standard.
• Ten Bluetooth PC Cards (IBM)
• Harmony CardBus Card (IBM). This CardBus Card supports IEEE 802.11a wireless standard.

For more information, visit the Electrical and Computer engineering Research Facilities, and Teaching Laboratories and Facilities.