Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
30 Automated Microwave Scatterometer and its digital twin
Jianing Xiao
Keyi Jin
Yurong Wang
# Team Members:
Yurong Wang (yurongw2)
Keyi Jin (keyijin2)
Jianing Xiao (xiao36)

# Problem Overview
Traditional microwave scatterometer systems rely heavily on manual or semi-automatic operation for calibration, antenna positioning, and measurement execution. This manual dependency introduces human error, limits experimental repeatability, and reduces overall efficiency. Current systems lack real-time synchronization between physical instruments and digital interfaces, preventing remote monitoring and intuitive control. Furthermore, physical hardware occupation during routine measurements blocks parallel activities such as algorithm development and experiment pre-planning. The absence of simulation capabilities restricts researchers from conducting "what-if" scenario analysis without consuming valuable instrument time. These limitations collectively hinder the advancement toward intelligent, autonomous electromagnetic measurement platforms required by modern aerospace and wireless communication applications.

# Solution Overview

Our solution for advancing traditional scatterometer systems is a Digital Twin. The Digital Twin for the microwave scatterometer can creates a seamless bridge between the physical and cyber worlds. It integrates hardware and software to enable automated data collection from the physical scatterometer instead of virtual simulation. The Digital Twin can automate calibration and measurement sequences, replacing manual operation with reliable, scheduled tasks. It can also create a real-time 3D visualization of the scatterometer's state within a model of its physical environment, allowing users to control the physical instrument through this interactive virtual model.

# Solution Components

## Interactive visualization Subsystem
- Real-time 3D scatterometer status display
- Interactive interface for users to enter commands
- Interface to display the data from the scatterometer

##Scatterometer Hardware Subsystem
- Sun and Solar Panel for charging
- Li-Ion Charger for emergency
- Storage Battery to store the electricity provided by solar panels and chargers
- Sensors used to detect the temperature and the humidity of the soil
- Camera to capture data
- Coupler and Wireless information transfer model to transder data between the device and the digital twin

# Criterion for Success
Automation & Control: The system shall execute fully automated calibration and measurement sequences with task scheduling reliability ≥99%, completely replacing manual intervention for routine operations. Measurement repeatability shall achieve coefficient of variation <2% across ten consecutive runs.
Real-time Visualization: Unity-based 3D model synchronization latency shall not exceed 500 ms from physical sensor update to virtual state reflection. Antenna orientation accuracy shall be within ±1°, rotation speed within ±2% of setpoint.
Simulation Accuracy: Virtual measurement results shall demonstrate trend consistency with physical measurements, enabling reliable "what-if" scenario planning for experiment design without hardware occupation.

RFI Detector

Featured Project

Problem Statement:

Radio frequency interference from cell phones disrupts measurements at the radio observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Many visitors do not comply when asked to turn their phones off or put them in airplane mode.

Description:

We are planning to design a handheld device that will be able to detect radio frequency interference from cell phones from approximately one meter away. This will allow someone to determine if a phone has been turned off or is in airplane mode.

The device will feature an RF front end consisting of antennas, filters, and matching networks. Multiple receiver chains may be used for different bands if necessary. They will feed into a detection circuit that will determine if the power within a given band is above a certain threshold. This information will be sent to a microcontroller that will provide visual/audible user feedback.