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Advanced Technologies and Solutions for Modern Communication and Sensing Systems

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Electronic Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 7023

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Departmentof Radio Electronics, 61600 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: modern analog active devices and elements; electronic adjustment; tunability and adjustability extension; analog filters; oscillators and generators; fractional-order circuits; immittance emulators; design and simulation in CMOS processes (Cadence Virtuoso); circuits and systems for sensing readouts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern communication systems for sensing applications and remote sensing require advanced electronics and technological approaches covering short- and wide-range wireless and optical communication as well as special modulation techniques. These systems and subsystems depend on robust analog, mixed-mode, and digital circuitry in the form of discrete or integrated circuits in modern CMOS fabrication processes as well as embedded platforms. Additional tasks including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), reliability and certification, minimized power consumption, etc. are also very important in the design of complex systems. All these topics are covered in the design of modern products as well as in multidisciplinary areas where the design of electronic communication systems represents a key and necessary part of global research strategies of the worldwide society. These strategies search for advanced, design-friendly, compact, energy-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions in electronic communication systems and related areas. This Special Issue will focus on modern development and advances in the area of communication systems suitable for sensing and remote sensing applications, including hardware as well as software design and implementation. The main topics in this Special Issue include (but are not limited to):

(A) Development of circuits for sensing and communication systems (active elements, analog and digital adjustable and configurable circuits in integrated and discrete form for signal generation, filtering, processing, and distribution, aspects of efficiency and low-power consumption, etc.);

(B) Development of electronic sensing readouts, transformers for measurement of electrical and nonelectrical quantities (systems for measurement of capacity, temperature, distance, etc.);

(C) Communication methods and wireless distribution of data and measured quantities (analog and digital modulation techniques, wireless radiofrequency and optical communication, design of antennas and interfaces, special test cases and conditions for reliability and EMC certification, etc.).

Dr. Roman Sotner
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antennas
  • sensing readouts
  • communication systems
  • design
  • electromagnetic compatibility
  • electronic circuits
  • interfaces
  • measurement
  • sensors
  • signal generation and processing

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2276 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Entropy of Signal Energy Used for Effective Detecting of Weak Gunshots in Noisy Environments
by Milan Sigmund
Sensors 2024, 24(15), 4933; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24154933 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Conventional gunshot detection systems can quickly and reliably detect gunshots in the area where the acoustic sensors are placed. This paper presents the detection of weak hunting gunshots using the short-term entropy of signal energy computed from acoustic signals in an open natural [...] Read more.
Conventional gunshot detection systems can quickly and reliably detect gunshots in the area where the acoustic sensors are placed. This paper presents the detection of weak hunting gunshots using the short-term entropy of signal energy computed from acoustic signals in an open natural environment. Our research in this field was primarily aimed at detecting gunshots fired at close range with the usual acoustic intensity to protect wild elephants from poachers. The detection of weak gunshots can extend existing detection systems to detect more distant gunshots. The developed algorithm was optimized for the detection of gunshots in two categories of the surrounding sounds, short impulsive events and continuous noise, and tested in acoustic scenes where the power ratios between the weak gunshots and louder surroundings range from 0 dB to −14 dB. The overall accuracy was evaluated in terms of recall and precision. Depending on impulsive or noise sounds, binary detection was successful down to −8 dB or −6 dB; then, the efficiency decreases, but some very weak gunshots can still be detected at −13 dB. Experiments show that the proposed method has the potential to improve the efficiency and reliability of gunshot detection systems. Full article
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23 pages, 8188 KiB  
Article
Power Amplifier Predistortion Using Reduced Sampling Rates in the Forward and Feedback Paths
by Serien Ahmed, Majid Ahmed, Souheil Bensmida and Oualid Hammi
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3439; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113439 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 693
Abstract
The feasibility of implementing digital predistortion for next-generation wireless communication is faced with a dilemma due to the ever-increasing demand for faster data rates. This causes the utilized bandwidth to increase significantly, as seen in the 5G NR standard in which bandwidths as [...] Read more.
The feasibility of implementing digital predistortion for next-generation wireless communication is faced with a dilemma due to the ever-increasing demand for faster data rates. This causes the utilized bandwidth to increase significantly, as seen in the 5G NR standard in which bandwidths as high as 400 MHz are utilized. Hence, the development of new predistortion techniques in which the forward and feedback paths operate at lower sampling rates is of utmost importance to realize efficient and practical predistortion solutions. In this work, a novel predistortion technique is presented by which the predistortion is divided between the digital and analog domains. The predistorter is composed of a memoryless AM/AM gain function that is implementable in the analog domain, and a nonlinear model with memory effects in the digital domain to relax the sampling rate requirements on both the forward and feedback paths. Experimental validation was carried out with a 20 MHz and a 40 MHz 5G signal, and the results indicate minimal linearization degradation with a sampling rate reduction of 50% and 30%, respectively. This sampling rate reduction is concurrently applied in the digital-to-analog converter of the forward path and the analog-to-digital converter of the feedback path. Full article
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16 pages, 2745 KiB  
Article
Latency Reduction and Packet Synchronization in Low-Resource Devices Connected by DDS Networks in Autonomous UAVs
by Joao Leonardo Silva Cotta, Daniel Agar, Ivan R. Bertaska, John P. Inness and Hector Gutierrez
Sensors 2023, 23(22), 9269; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23229269 - 18 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1716
Abstract
Real-time flight controllers are becoming dependent on general-purpose operating systems, as the modularity and complexity of guidance, navigation, and control systems and algorithms increases. The non-deterministic nature of operating systems creates a critical weakness in the development of motion control systems for robotic [...] Read more.
Real-time flight controllers are becoming dependent on general-purpose operating systems, as the modularity and complexity of guidance, navigation, and control systems and algorithms increases. The non-deterministic nature of operating systems creates a critical weakness in the development of motion control systems for robotic platforms due to the random delays introduced by operating systems and communication networks. The high-speed operation and sensitive dynamics of UAVs demand fast and near-deterministic communication between the sensors, companion computer, and flight control unit (FCU) in order to achieve the required performance. In this paper, we present a method to assess communications latency between a companion computer and an RTOS open-source flight controller, which is based on an XRCE-DDS bridge between clients hosted in the low-resource environment and the DDS network used by ROS2. A comparison based on the measured statistics of latency illustrates the advantages of XRCE-DDS compared to the standard communication method based on MAVROS-MAVLink. More importantly, an algorithm to estimate latency offset and clock skew based on an exponential moving average filter is presented, providing a tool for latency estimation and correction that can be used by developers to improve synchronization of processes that rely on timely communication between the FCU and companion computer, such as synchronization of lower-level sensor data at the higher-level layer. This addresses the challenges introduced in GNC applications by the non-deterministic nature of general-purpose operating systems and the inherent limitations of standard flight controller hardware. Full article
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23 pages, 19289 KiB  
Article
Various-Order Low-Pass Filter with the Electronic Change of Its Approximation
by Lukas Langhammer, Roman Sotner and Radek Theumer
Sensors 2023, 23(19), 8057; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23198057 - 24 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1694
Abstract
The design of a low-pass-frequency filter with the electronic change of the approximation characteristics of resulting responses is presented. The filter also offers the reconnection-less reconfiguration of the order (1st-, 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-order functions are available). Furthermore, the filter offers the electronic [...] Read more.
The design of a low-pass-frequency filter with the electronic change of the approximation characteristics of resulting responses is presented. The filter also offers the reconnection-less reconfiguration of the order (1st-, 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-order functions are available). Furthermore, the filter offers the electronic control of the cut-off frequency of the output response. The feature of the electronic change in the approximation characteristics is investigated for the Butterworth, Bessel, Elliptic, Chebyshev and Inverse Chebyshev approximations. The design is verified by PSpice simulations and experimental measurements. The results are also supported by the transient domain response (response to the square waveform), comparison of the group delay, sensitivity analysis and implementation feasibility based on given approximation. The benefit of the proposed electronic change in the approximation characteristics feature (in general signal processing or for sensors in particular) is presented and discussed for an exemplary scenario. Full article
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21 pages, 1955 KiB  
Article
Optimized Classifier Learning for Face Recognition Performance Boost in Security and Surveillance Applications
by Jitka Poměnková and Tobiáš Malach
Sensors 2023, 23(15), 7012; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23157012 - 7 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
Face recognition has become an integral part of modern security processes. This paper introduces an optimization approach for the quantile interval method (QIM), a promising classifier learning technique used in face recognition to create face templates and improve recognition accuracy. Our research offers [...] Read more.
Face recognition has become an integral part of modern security processes. This paper introduces an optimization approach for the quantile interval method (QIM), a promising classifier learning technique used in face recognition to create face templates and improve recognition accuracy. Our research offers a three-fold contribution to the field. Firstly, (i) we strengthened the evidence that QIM outperforms other contemporary template creation approaches. For this reason, we investigate seven template creation methods, which include four cluster description-based methods and three estimation-based methods. Further, (ii) we extended testing; we use a nearly four times larger database compared to the previous study, which includes a new set, and we report the recognition performance on this extended database. Additionally, we distinguish between open- and closed-set identification. Thirdly, (iii) we perform an evaluation of the cluster estimation-based method (specifically QIM) with an in-depth analysis of its parameter setup in order to make its implementation feasible. We provide instructions and recommendations for the correct parameter setup. Our research confirms that QIM’s application in template creation improves recognition performance. In the case of automatic application and optimization of QIM parameters, improvement recognition is about 4–10% depending on the dataset. In the case of a too general dataset, QIM also provides an improvement, but the incorporation of QIM into an automated algorithm is not possible, since QIM, in this case, requires manual setting of optimal parameters. This research contributes to the advancement of secure and accurate face recognition systems, paving the way for its adoption in various security applications. Full article
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