Hi, I’m Luís
My area of expertise is in FPGA design with experience in both Xilinx and Intel software. I worked in different fields of research with FPGA and I am currently lecturing and working in Leiria. I am looking for new challenges to embrace.
My Experience
FPGA design
Developer in numerous projects
Radar, Communications, Fiber Optics and RF integration.
Teacher assistant
Invited lecturer in Polytechnic of Leiria
Eletric circuits and digital design courses.
Management consultant
Co-founder and consultant of Helptronic company
Electronics repairment services and informatic sales.
Education
PhD in Electrical Engineer
University of Aveiro
Aveiro, Portugal
Msc Electronics and Telecommunications
University of Aveiro
Aveiro, Portugal
Erasmus program inside Msc
Tallinn University of Technology
Tallinn, Estonia
Secondary School Education
Escola Dr. Joaquim de Carvalho
Figueira da Foz, Portugal
My Portfolio
PhD FCT grant
Studentship for Doctoral Research was awarded by "Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnoologia" (FCT) in Portugal.
PhD FCT grant
This PhD work’s main objective is to accomplish a dual-polarisation STDCC radar with fully reconfigurable capabilities. It explores the auto-correlation properties of PN sequences to detect targets taking advantage of their high immunity to interference characteristics.
This novel radar uses the Swept Time-Delay Cross-Correlator (STDCC) technique that presents high-resolution and multi-user operation with its good interference immunity.
STDCC reconfigurable baseband:
A key part of this thesis was the development of a radar baseband with fast prototyping capability to improve radar detection performance on the fly. Thus, an agile radar baseband is required to generate radar waveforms and tune them, allowing to study of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for different radar waveforms. The proposed reconfigurable baseband architecture, depicted below, uses an FPGA to change, on-the-fly, the all-digitally outputted PN sequences and their bandwidth.
mmWave reconfigurable RF front-end operating between 24 and 28GHz:
The 24GHz band has a license-free band of 250MHz bandwidth that was widely used in the last decade in radio location applications, especially for short-range radar (SRR) scenarios in the automotive and drone sectors. We developed an RF stage using X-microwave technology that provides a complete modular building block eco-system for microwave components as shown in the following figure. Two transmitting and receiving RF stages operating between 24 and 28GHz were achieved in the end.
Radar App development:
A MatLab app was fully developed to automate the FPGA configuration and to visualise the radar captured data. Three different data visualisation tabs, each responsible for a different capture mode with the antennae still or moving. The user can select between a PDP that is a range profile mode with received signal strength as a function of distance, a waterfall mode, which shows the radar signal’s power spectrum as a function of time and PPI that uses motors to rotate the radar to accomplish a comprehensive view of the radar surrounding area.
SAR algorithm development:
Typical application usage for this technique is high-resolution screening and mapping of difficult access areas like heavy vegetation forests or other critical systems used in aviation systems. Using SAR algorithm we can reconstruct the intended target by performing various acquisitions with different perspectives accomplished by the radar movement as shown below.
The SAR algorithm can also improve radar spatial resolution. The STDCC radar has a maximum of 500 MHz, which corresponds to a 30 cm resolution. By using the synthetic aperture technique we can accurately reconstruct smaller targets below our resolution like is shown in the results below from a PCB that has the physical dimensions of 12x8cm with three shapes of 3 cm.
PURE5GNET
Integration of RF front-ends and fiber optics connection in multiple FPGAs to have a MU-MIMO demonstrator.
PURE5GNET
The demonstration scenario, illustrated in Figure 1, is composed of a Primary User (PU) transmitting to a Primary Base Station (BS) and two Secondary Users (SU1 and SU2) transmitting to a Secondary Base Station. Since all users will utilize the same frequency and be transmitted at the same time, the two Secondary Users will be perceived as interference by the Primary BS. Therefore, a precoding algorithm is required to code all users’ data before transmission to enable the proper data decoding at the Base Station. The precoding and decoding algorithms were implemented in Xilinx System Generator in the HETCOP project.
The proposed scenario has three users that need, in total, 5 transmitter (Tx) and 3 receiver (Rx) antennas. Therefore, 1 FMCOMMS5 and 1 FMCOMMS3 RF boards were required to accomplish all the RF chains required by the three users on the User Equipment side (UE).
The hardware project, responsible for configuring the RF boards, was designed from scratch with the Xilinx KC705 development kit in mind. The KC705 only has two FMC connectors, thus another FPGA was required to have the FMCOMMS3 and FMCOMMS5 RF boards. Thus, a high-speed connection between both FPGAs was required to ensure the synchronisation between all three users’ transmissions. Therefore, both boards were connected via fibre optics (SFP+) using a Aurora encoder that was integrated into the OFDM engine and MU-MIMO precoding developed in Xilinx System Generator.
The Base Station side onlyrequires one transmitter and two receiver antennas. To implement it a KC705 FPGA development kits and one FMCOMMS3 RF card was used.
Live demonstrator:
HETCOP
Development of a MU-MIMO OFDM pre-coding and decoding in FPGA using Xilinx System Generator.
HETCOP
The demonstration scenario, illustrated in Figure 1, is composed of a Primary User (PU) transmitting to a Primary Base Station (BS) and two Secondary Users (SU1 and SU2) transmitting to a Secondary Base Station. Since all users will utilize the same frequency and be transmitted at the same time, the two Secondary Users (SU1 and SU2) will be perceived as interference by the Primary BS.
The precoding and decoding algorithms were implemented in Xilinx System Generator environment for later compilation and deployment to the FPGA kits, as cn be seen in the next figure.
The Tx block is comprised by a Precoding and Framing part, OFDM engine and UE demultiplexer. The first part pre-codes all users data, introduces pilots for channel estimation and serializes the information. Such serializer is a resource saving technique that allows the usage of a single OFDM Tx Engine. Then, the UE demultiplexer receives the modulated information and feeds it to the correct transmitting antennas for Over-The-Air transmission.
The algorithm running on the Base Station side is responsible for channel estimation recurring to the sent pilots, data demodulation with the OFDM Rx Engine, as well as, estimating the PU data with the decoding algorithm.
The MU-MIMO OFDM had such a frame structure. The sent payload is represented by the white tiles that are common in all users, each being an interference to each other. In the end the decoding will be responsible of recovering the original data.
My Resume
PhD - Electrical Enginnering
University of Aveiro (2016 / 2023)
Thesis with the theme “Concealed target tracking using enhanced radar Techniques”. This work proposes a novel radar using the Swept Time-Delay Cross-Correlator (STDCC) technique that presents high-resolution and multi-user operation with its good interference immunity.
GPA of curricular units : CU1 – 15 ;
CU2 – 16 ;
CU3 – 17 ;
Seminar – 15 ;
Electronics Option – 16 ;
External Option – 16 ;
Work proposal - 18/20.
Note : The theme was changed from “Visible Light Communication heterogeneous networks for future wireless systems” in December 2019.
Msc in Electronics and Telecommunications
University of Aveiro (2008 / 2015)
Thesis with the theme "DLL architecture for OFDM based Visible Light Communication transceivers in FPGA" - GPA: 18/20.
This work was part of the VLCLighting project and developed a Data Link Layer in C++ to run in a microprocessor architecture inside an FPGA that was responsible for routing and encapsulating the data for a VLC system.
Secondary School Education
Escola Dr. Joaquim de Carvalho (2005 / 2008)
Research experience
PhD grant
Ph.D. national research grant - (2021 / 2023)
A MIMO mmWave RF front-end was developed to be used by a reconfigurable RADAR solution. The RADAR waveform was generated all-digitally in an FPGA and was used to perform a STDCC technique.
Algorithms of radar visualisation of PDP, PPI and SAR were developed inside a MatLab app.
RADAVANT project
Instituto de Telecomunicações - (2018 / 2020)The RADAVANT project aims to research and develop a joint communication with radar-type sensing system to improve flight safety and control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) dedicated to utilities and infrastructure inspection.
5GMIMOTestbed project
Instituto de Telecomunicações - (2018)
The 5G MIMO TESTBED project aims at establishing the mm-wave RAN state-of-the-art for the 5th generation wireless cellular systems. The use of advanced MIMO antenna systems and complex signal processing provide the means to offer multi-Gbps wireless communications for multiple users, simultaneously.
The main outcome of the project is a close-to-market demonstrator built around an FPGA-based processing engine, COTS digital-to-analogue converters, coupled to an in-house designed 60GHz radio-head.
Pure5GNet project
Instituto de Telecomunicações - (2016 / 2018)The main technical objectives of this project are to develop a high-performance heterogeneous access network by considering a flexible C-RAN based architecture, and integrating mmW communications with conventional radio-wave communication systems, joint cognition and cooperative schemes.
HETCOP project
Instituto de Telecomunicações - (2015 / 2016)
The main technical objectives of the project are to design, implement and validate a set of techniques that enables efficient coexistence of heterogeneous systems (macro and smallcells).
The aim is to design and demonstrate practical joint cooperative and cognitive transmission/reception techniques to improve the user’s fairness and throughput of the entire network.
VLCLighting project
Instituto de Telecomunicações - (2015)
Project VLCLighting aims at the exploitation of Visible Light Communication (VLC) concepts on public lighting systems.
Using LEDs for both illumination and communication purposes presents new design perspectives, able to promote system performance: replacing PLC or Zigbee interfaces by a VLC transceiver allows the reduction of deployment and/or operational costs, and improves energy efficiency.
Work experience
Invited assistant
Professor in Polythechnic of Leiria - (2018 / Present)
• Theoretical lecturer of Electrical Fundamentals;
• Practical lecturer of Digital Systems;
• Practical lecturer of Digital Electronics;
• Practical lecturer of Electric Circuits;
• Practical lecturer of Applied Physics.
Co-supervisor of Bsc Thesis
Polytechnic of Leiria - (2021 / 2022)Co-supervisor of one Bachelor student final project that was responsible of developing a LORA solution to transmit CERN vacuum sensors state wirelessly.
Co-supervisor of Bsc Thesis
Polytechnic of Leiria - (2020 / 2021)
Co-supervisor of two Bachelor students that developped a PCB with an integrated FPGA capable of communicating with CERN sector valve card units.
CERN is the European organization for nuclear research, which operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. They required to update and redesign their cards responsible for controlling the vacuum valves that provide insulation between vaccum sectors.
Teaching assistant
Assistant in University of Aveiro - (2019)Practical lecturer of Programming II.
Consultant in HELPTRONIC
CHIP7 Aveiro - (2017 / 2018)
Reports the consulting in the HELPTRONIC start-up, which had the main goal of electronic technical
assistance and sales in Aveiro, opened as a CHIP7 franchisee.
Supervision of technical and commercial staff, as well as, tutoring professional and academic internships.
Reports the full invoice software configuration and management tools (SAGE, Wisedat and TOConline).
Development of a PHP Backoffice for the repair follow-up and a commercial CRM and a website in Magento to promote online sales to our customers.
Reports the commercial department coordination, namely in the orders, payment control together with
the accountant, shipping tracking in close contact with the suppliers and business client quotations.
FPGA software
Xilinx ISE
Xilinx Vivado
Xilinx SDK
Xilinx System Generator
Altera Quartus
Other software
Office Tools
Altium
Fusion 360
Adobe Photoshop
FPGA programming
MatLab
VHDL
Verilog
C++
Other languages
C/C++
Java
HTML / Javascript
PHP
Research Articles
"A SDR for Future Wireless Communication Systems at 60 GHz"
MDPI ElectronicsAuthors: Luís Duarte, Rodolfo Gomes, Carlos Ribeiro and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
Impact factor = 2.9 (Q2) Download
"Multi-Gigabit/s OFDM real-time based transceiver engine for 5G MIMO applications"
Physical Communication - Elsevier
Authors: Carlos Ribeiro, Rodolfo Gomes, Luís Duarte, Akram Hammoudeh and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
Impact factor = 2.2 (Q2) Download
"Performance evaluation of OFDM data transmission using an 2D beamsteering transmitarray"
IRECAP
Authors: João Reis, Carlos Ribeiro, Luís Duarte, Rodolfo Gomes and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
Impact factor = 1.7 (Q3) Download
Conference papers
"A feasibility study on real-time concealed object detection in foliage using STDCC radar"
CNSDSP22 - Porto, PortugalAuthors: Luís Duarte, Mário Vala, Carlos Ribeiro, Luís N. Alves, Carlos A. Fernandes and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"Reconfigurable millimetre-wave RF front-end for radar and 5G applications"
ConfTele21 - Lisbon, PortugalAuthors: Luís Duarte, João Reis, Nuno Leonor, Carlos Ribeiro, Luís N. Alves and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"STDCC radar at 24 GHz: first measurement trials"
URSI GASS 2020 - Rome, ItalyAuthors: André Sardo, João Reis, Luís Duarte, Nuno Leonor, Carlos Ribeiro and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"All-digital reconfigurable STDCC radar baseband implementation in FPGA"
CSNDSP20 - Porto, PortugalAuthors: André Sardo, João Reis, Luís Duarte, Nuno Leonor, Carlos Ribeiro and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"A novel MIMO-OFDM Alamouti architecture for 5G systems at 26 GHz"
IMOC19 - Aveiro, PortugalAuthors: Rodolfo Gomes, Luís Duarte, Carlos Ribeiro, Akram Hammoudeh and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"Disruptive Future of Radar Based on All-Digital PN Signal Processing"
IEEE APWC19 - Granada, SpainAuthors: Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha, João Reis, André Sardo, Luís Duarte, Nuno Leonor, João Gil and Carlos Ribeiro;
"5G Testbed for OTA Testing at 60 GHz: From GbE-based to UHD Multistream Video"
ConfTele19 - Lisbon, PortugalAuthors: Rodolfo Gomes, Luís Duarte, Carlos Ribeiro, Akram Hammoudeh, Manuel G. Sanchez and Rafael F. S. Caldeirinha;
"Implementation of an OWC channel emulator in FPGA"
CSNDSP18 - Budapest, HungaryAuthors: Luís Rodrigues, Luís Duarte, João Pandeirada, Luís N. Alves, Ales Dobesch, Lukas Janik, Marek Novak and Otakar Wilfert;
“On Real Time Optical Wireless Communication Channel Emulator Design with FPGAs”
WACOWC18 - Isfahan, IranAuthors: Luís Rodrigues, Luís Duarte, João Pandeirada and Luís N. Alves;
"DLL architecture for OFDM based VLC transceivers in FPGA"
CSNDSP16 - Prague, Czech RepublicAuthors: Luís Duarte, Luís Rodrigues, Luís N. Alves, Carlos Ribeiro and Mónica Figueiredo;
"VLCLighting - A Collaborative Research Project on Visible Light Communication"
ConfTele15 - Aveiro, PortugalAuthors: Carlos Ribeiro, Mónica Figueiredo, Luís N. Alves, Luís Duarte, Luís Rodrigues and Pedro Rodrigues;
Appearances
Flying autonomous car will be around cities
- Newspaper JN
- Date 4 July 2021
Concealed target tracking using enhanced radar techniques
This work adresses a novel radar using the Swept Time-Delay Cross-Correlator (STDCC) technique that presents high-resolution and multi-user operation with its good interference immunity. The envisaged radar technique is sought to mitigate incumbent and mutual interference risks. This work also addresses a polarimetric capabilities to further identify the intended targets with an image algorithm SAR tested.
Contact With Me
Luís Duarte
Reseacher / ProfessorI am available for new job opportunities. Connect with me via and call in to my account.
Phone: +351 910213820 Email: luisdiogomedinaduarte@gmail.com