In line with national and international developments, a major focus in wireless broadband communications is the research and development of communication and sensing systems ranging from sub-6 GHz to terahertz frequencies. The focus of our work is on communications as well as RADAR-like sensing in the mmWave frequency band, (⁓60 GHz), the D-Band (⁓140 GHz) and sub-THz frequencies (⁓240 GHz). In addition, we investigate efficient modulation schemes, e.g. Orthogonal Time-Frequency Space (OTFS) modulation and different MIMO and spatial multiplexing techniques. We conduct many joint research projects together with the IHP Circuit Design Department. The group is structured into two closely cooperating teams: “Real-Time Communication and Sensing Systems” and “High-Performance and Reliable Wireless Systems.”
We are involved in multiple projects funded by the EU, BMFTR, and DFG, providing a strong research basis for the coming years.
Research Relevance and Application Areas
As with its contributions to 5G mobile communication systems, the Wireless Broadband Communications Group is actively shaping future 6G standards. Together with project partners, we develop and propose technologies and architectures for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC/ICAS).
Potential applications range from improving safety in industrial environments and monitoring vital signs at home or in clinical settings to detecting drones and other airborne objects. Enhancing the performance, resilience and trustworthiness of future communication systems is essential to enabling these applications.
Main Research Objectives
Real-Time Communication and Sensing Systems
- PHY layer algorithms
- Sub-6GHz, mmWave and sub-THz PHY implementation
- (FPGA-based) SDR and real-time processing platforms
- System integration + development of application software
- Demonstration and system evaluation in real application environments
High-Performance and Reliable Wireless Systems
- Future modulation and coding schemes
- High-reliability communication for high-mobility scenarios
- Communication Systems with Markov-Coupled HARQ
Research Areas
Real-Time Communication and Sensing Systems (RTCSS)
The team RTCSS focuses on the development and implementation of PHY layer (digital baseband) processing algorithms as well as the whole system integration of wireless transceivers. Current research focuses on the development of ICAS/ISAC functionalities for high-resolution environmental sensing, object detection and vital sign monitoring as well as the integration of line-of-sight MIMO communication systems in the sub-THz frequency region. All developments include the evaluation in real application environments and scenarios based on the hardware-implemented processors and accelerators.
High-Performance and Reliable Wireless Systems
The group develops advanced Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) schemes based on coupled Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes, with emphasis on improving reliability and goodput while limiting retransmission overhead and decoder complexity. It also investigates high-throughput hardware implementations of LDPC and polar decoders. In parallel, the group works on Orthogonal Time-Frequency Space (OTFS) communication and sensing, including Software Defined Radio (SDR)-based implementations, delay–Doppler processing, and comparisons with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in doubly-dispersive channels.
Research results
A mmWave frontend chip-set, supporting beamforming was further improved and is now available in different versions suitable for a range of applications.
