USNC-URSI E-Lecture: Cognitive Radio: Driving Future Spectrum Exploitation

A talk by Prof. Sven Bilen under the auspices of USNC-URSI delivered on September 17, 2024.
Abstract: Cognitive radio is a rapidly evolving technology to optimize and exploit spectrum via radios that can dynamically adapt their transmission parameters. Research on cognitive radio is important due to the increasing demand for use of the radio spectrum. This talk will provide an overview of cognitive radio technology, motivation for its development, and key concepts. The talk will also discuss the challenges associated with cognitive radio, such as spectrum sensing, dynamic spectrum access, and interference management, and present some recent advances and research efforts in addressing these challenges. The talk will conclude with several applications of cognitive radio that the speaker has been associated with.
Sven G. Bilen, Ph.D., P.E. is Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. He directs the Systems Design Lab and the Space Propulsion Lab, and is the founding director of the Certificate in Space Systems Engineering and the Student Space Programs Lab. Prof. Bilén’s research interests include the areas of space systems design; electrodynamic-tethers; spacecraft-plasma interactions; plasma diagnostics for space plasmas, plasma electric thrusters, and semiconductor plasma processing; cognitive and software-defined radio techniques and systems; wireless sensor systems; 3D concrete printing; innovative engineering design, systems design and new product design; engineering entrepreneurship; and global and virtual engineering design. He has over three decades of experience designing, building, and fielding innovative systems for harsh and demanding environments---from space to the Arctic. He employs a systems design approach to ensure mission success, translating early-stage needs into verified requirements and validated deployed systems. He has a strong interest in seeing technologies he has worked on and advanced within a university research environment to get "into the wild.'' He is senior member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; associate fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; and member of American Geophysical Union, American Association for Engineering Education, International Council on Systems Engineering, and Sigma Xi.