Developing 3D CAD Models and Low-Cost Hardware for Learning New Topics in Telecommunication Laboratories

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the learning and teaching of various laboratory skills encountered numerous challenges. In electrical engineering, the field of telecommunication involving fields and waves requires the creation of different devices and their subsequent measurement in laboratory settings. In the undergraduate curriculum of this field, the antenna and microwave laboratories play a crucial role in acquainting students with tangible devices, their operational mechanisms, measurement specifications, and the utilization of measurement equipment. To facilitate the comprehension of courses related to microwave devices and antenna design, a compilation of 3D designs was devised to simulate performance alongside theoretical concepts. This extensive collection includes components like transmission lines, waveguides, couplers, filters, circulators, antennas, and more. It serves as a valuable resource for traditional in-person theory classes and provides a foundation for research projects undertaken by graduate students. It can be used to generate a database for use in designs with the help of machine learning, too. Subsequently, several pieces of educational hardware were designed and constructed to address emerging topics, including automotive radar, software-defined radio, and spread spectrum telecommunications.