CS 598 WSI – Advanced Wireless Networks and the Internet of Things

Instructor: Deepak Vasisht (deepakv@illinois.edu)

TA: Emerson Sie (sie2@illinois.edu)

Lectures: Wednesday, Friday – 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm Central Time

Location: 1214 Siebel Computer Science

Office Hours (Deepak): Wednesday, 3 pm to 4 pm Central Time, SC 3110

Office Hours (Emerson): Monday, 1 pm to 2 pm Central Time, SC 3105

Discussion forum: Ed (join here https://edstem.org/us/join/cGBrya)

Zoom link: Document (Requires GApps@Illinois Login)

Overview

This graduate-level seminar aims to provide the background necessary for conducting research in wireless networking and its intersections with the Internet of Things. Our goal is three fold: (a) to understand the fundamentals of wireless communications, and sensing; (b) to discuss the latest advances in wireless networks and Internet of Things such as satellite networking, digital healthcare, data-driven agriculture, and under-water sensing, (c) to provide hands-on experience in working with these technologies.

In this class, we will also have guest lectures from experts in academia and/or industry on a subset of the themes described below to get deeper into how the research problems that we are discussing impact the world out there.

Topics

This class will cover the following topics:

  • Wireless Communication

  • Localization/Positioning

  • Low Power Networks

  • Security and Privacy

  • Machine Learning for IoT Systems

  • Applications: Agriculture, Robotics, Ocean Monitoring

  • Acoustic and RF Sensing

  • Satellite Networks

About the Course

Pre-requisites

This class is open to PhD and Masters students as well as advanced undergraduate students. If you have taken a class in computer networks or wireless networks or embedded systems, the class material will be easier to access. If you are not sure about the prerequisites, email Deepak.

Grading

The class will be graded as follows:

  • Reading Assignments: 10%

  • Scribe Notes: 10%

  • Labs and Homeworks (4): 30%

  • Class Project: 50%

Reading Assignments

Each class will have one or two reading assignments which we will read prior to the class. To get the most out of the class, the students should read the papers in detail before the class. Before each class, the students should submit answers to two-three questions about the readings posted on the course website. The answers are due at 11:59 pm on the night prior to the class. You are allowed three free skips. An answer submitted after the deadline but before the class counts as half-skip.

Scribe Notes

The goal of scribe notes is to serve as reading material for this course such that every student can go back to these notes. You should sign up for one scribe slot in this spreadsheet and prepare notes for that class. Your notes should be typed, and cover the important material covered in the class.

Research Project

The goal of this class is to help you build a research project that connects the topics in this class with your own research. If you do not have a research direction yet, this class will help you identify research directions in wireless systems and the Internet of Things. In the research project, you will be able to explore these directions in depth.

Teams: Students can form teams of 2 to execute on projects. Teams of 3 are also OK, but the expectation on contribution is higher.

Expectation: The research projects should aim really high – the best research projects will lead to research papers in top conferences like SIGCOMM, NSDI, MobiCom, SenSys, etc. If your project is too ambitious to be executed in a semester, we will help you to find a smaller chunk that you can execute in class duration.

Milestones: The project will have the following checkpoints:

  • Project Proposal: Oct 16

  • Midterm Review: Nov 8

  • Project Presentation: Dec 4 and 6

  • Project Report: TBD

Anti-racism and Inclusivity

The intent of this section is to raise student and instructor awareness of the ongoing threat of bias and racism and of the need to take personal responsibility in creating an inclusive learning environment.

The Grainger College of Engineering is committed to the creation of an anti-racist, inclusive community that welcomes diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, disability status, class, age, or religious beliefs. The College recognizes that we are learning together in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, that Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous voices and contributions have largely either been excluded from, or not recognized in, science and engineering, and that both overt racism and micro-aggressions threaten the well-being of our students and our university community.

The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon each of us to create a safe and encouraging learning environment that allows for the open exchange of ideas while also ensuring equitable opportunities and respect for all of us. Everyone is expected to help establish and maintain an environment where students, staff, and faculty can contribute without fear of personal ridicule, or intolerant or offensive language. If you witness or experience racism, discrimination, micro-aggressions, or other offensive behavior, you are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the course director if you feel comfortable. You can also report these behaviors to the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART) (https://bart.illinois.edu/). Based on your report, BART members will follow up and reach out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. If the reported behavior also violates university policy, staff in the Office for Student Conflict Resolution may respond as well and will take appropriate action.

CS Cares, CS Values, and CS Code of Conduct

All members of the Illinois Computer Science department - faculty, staff, and students - are expected to adhere to the CS Values and Code of Conduct. The CS CARES Committee is available to serve as a resource to help people who are concerned about or experience a potential violation of the Code. If you experience such issues, please contact the CS CARES Committee. The Instructors of this course are also available for issues related to this class.

Statement on Mental Health

Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, substancealcohol abuse, or problems with eating andor sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance, social development, and emotional well-being. The University of Illinois offers a variety of confidential services including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric services, and specialized screenings at no additional cost. If you or someone you know experiences any of the above mental health concerns, it is strongly encouraged to contact or visit any of the University's resources provided below. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do – for yourself and for those who care about you.

Counseling Center: 217-333-3704, 610 East John Street Champaign, IL 61820

McKinley Health Center:217-333-2700, 1109 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801

University wellness center: https://wellness.illinois.edu/