This project aims to design a Radio-Frequency (RF) Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) chip managed by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
algorithms with application in Software-Defined-Radio (SDR) and Cognitive-Radio (CR) transceivers for 6G mobile terminals and IoT
devices. The target is to digitize RF signals with an adaptive 8-to-12-bit effective resolution within a programmable 30kHz-to-300MHz
bandwidth, and a tunable carrier frequency ranging from 0.4GHz to 6GHz. The operation of the system will be managed by an embedded
Artificial Neural Network (ANN) engine which, based on the information sensed from the electromagnetic spectrum, will predict the least
occupied frequency band to establish the communication. A proof-of-concept (POC) chipset demonstrator will be implemented at prototype
level in a 28-nm FD-SOI technology provided by ST Microelectronics and an implementation plan will be coordinated with Seamless
Waves company (https://seamlesswaves.com), whose Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is one of the external collaborators in this project.
The design of the system will be supported by an ANN-based optimization methodology and it will apply the circuits and systems
techniques developed in prior project named CORDION (Cognitive Radio Digitizers for IoT Nodes. Ref. PID2019-103876RB-I00).
The POC chipset developed in this project addresses some design challenges towards a more efficient digital transformation linked to the
strategic actions of the National Program for Scientific & Technical Research, and Innovation (Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica,
Técnica y de Innovación, PEICTI 2021-2023), and more directly with the strategic action AE4 Digital World, Industry, Space and Defense.
Within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resiliency Plan, the present project targets research activities intended towards
a digital transition such as the use of disruptive technologies towards an ecological and sustainable transition. It is also aligned with Goal
9 - Industries, Innovation, and Infrastructure of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. The project directly
contributes to the Microelectronics and Semiconductors Strategic Plan in Spain, known as PERTE CHIP, which aims to strengthen the
design and production capabilities of the Spanish microelectronics and semiconductor industry. In particular, the activity carried out in the
project is directly aligned with the following thematic line: (a) Micro/Nanoelectrónica. Diseño, procesos y tecnologías para Circuitos
Integrados, and as secondary line (b) RISC V: diseño de procesadores con arquitecturas RISC-V. The POC proposes an innovative way
of digitizing RF signals in next-generation 6G mobile terminals and AIoT devices based on a more efficient use of the electromagnetic
spectrum with the aid of AI-assisted RF/digital interfaces.
Project PDC2023-145808-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union NextGenerationEU/ PRTR.
