The National Science Foundation has awarded Tommaso Cappello, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Villanova University, a five-year CAREER grant of $547,357 for research into improving wireless communication systems, according to a May 6 statement from the university.
The award supports early-career teacher-scholars who integrate research and education. The funding will allow Cappello to work on the project “Mixed-Domain Pre-Distortion of RF Non-Linear Components for High-Efficiency, Wide-Band, and Reconfigurable Transmitters,” which aims to make transmitters more efficient by addressing inefficiencies in power amplifiers.
Cappello said his goal is to develop new techniques that use mixed-domain electronics—integrating digital, analog and radio frequency components—to improve the balance between efficiency and linearity in transmitter design. “It is incredible what the integration of digital, analog and RF electronics can achieve together—while historically they have been designed by separate groups, the need for performance now requires an integrated approach,” Cappello said. “This is exactly the goal of this project: to develop new techniques to improve the relationship between efficiency and linearity by using mixed-domain electronics, ensuring signals are transmitted accurately while using less energy. I’m incredibly thankful for NSF’s support of this endeavor and to receive this distinguished award.”
Improving transmitter efficiency could help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions because telecommunications infrastructure accounts for an estimated 1-2% of worldwide energy consumption. The research may also lead to smaller, lighter transmitters with better reliability due to lower operating temperatures as well as improved range and bandwidth.
Cappello’s work includes collaborations with researchers at The Ohio State University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Villanova University reports that it has more than 10,000 students across six colleges.
