ECE Students Dive Into Communications Design Course With a New Lab Sponsored by Hughes

Hughes partners with The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to provide students with technology equipment in the new lab

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  October 13, 2017

CONTACT:
Kara Stamets
301 405 4471
stametsk@umd.edu

The 428 Communications Design Lab sponsored by Hughes Network Systems

COLLEGE PARK, Md., October 13, 2017— On October 13, 2017, at 1:15 PM the University of Maryland’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) in the A. James Clark School of Engineering will celebrate the opening of a newly designed laboratory for its Communications Design Course, ENEE428, thanks to Hughes Network Systems (HUGHES). Located on the first floor of the A.V. Williams Building, the new lab allows students to gain experience using a variety of equipment common to the telecom industry, such as signal generators, spectrum analyzers, error rate test sets, channel simulators and digital signal processors.

Professor Steve Tretter, who has been the instructor for ENEE428 for many years, said of the lab, “The Communications Design Laboratory is one of my favorite classes to teach. I am so thrilled with the new design of the lab, and thankful to Hughes for this sponsorship. It will be wonderful to work with the students in this state-of-the-art space and to collaborate with Hughes on examples of problems facing the communications industry.”

Using computers at two semicircular, high-top table stations, perfect for fostering collaboration in pairs, students in the ENEE428 senior-level elective course are able to implement the theoretical concepts presented in Communications Systems (ENEE420) and Digital Signal Processing (ENEE425) on actual hardware in real time. Once an experiment is completed, students will use a workstation to demonstrate that the implementation is working correctly, and they will then be assessed on completed individual written lab reports.

Paul Gaske, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Hughes North America, and an ECE alumnus commented, “We are very proud to support this advanced capability of the ECE’s lab facilities and to play a role in educating the next generation of communications engineers. They will help companies like ours stay in the forefront of technology innovation, working to improve and extend communications access for communities around the globe.”

Hughes is the world’s leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, and the company is a longtime corporate affiliate of the ECE Department as well as being a top employer of recent ECE graduates and interns. 

This is the third lab renovation of an ECE undergraduate lab in as many years. The gift for ENEE428 included funds for the construction of the redesigned space and an endowment to secure the most current equipment and upkeep for the lab.  Professor Rama Chellappa, chairman of the ECE Department, said, “Paul and Hughes have been longtime friends and partners of ECE and the Clark School.  The new Communications Design Lab sponsored by Hughes solidifies their place as a top partner,” added Tretter. “Hughes has also done a great service for current students and future students who will take this course. The redesign of this lab shows the commitment the department and its sponsors have to educating future engineers.”

When and Where:

• Friday, October 13, 2017
• 1:15 PM: Hughes Network Systems Ribbon Cutting and Dedication, A.V. Williams Building, College Park, Maryland

Who:

• Rama Chellappa, Ph.D., Chair and Distinguished University Professor
• Mel Gomez, Ph.D., Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies
• Charles Barnett, Vice President for Engineering, Hughes
• Paul Gaske, Executive Vice President and General Manager, North America, Hughes

 

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About the A. James Clark School of Engineering

The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering is a premier program, ranked among the top 20 in the world. Located just a few miles from Washington, D.C., the Clark School is at the center of a constellation of high-tech companies and federal laboratories, offering students and faculty access to unique professional opportunities.

Our broad spectrum of academic programs, including the world’s only accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program, is complemented by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, early hands-on educational experiences, and participation in national and international competitions.

The Clark School is leading research advancements in aerospace, bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, disaster resilience, energy and sustainability, and cybersecurity. From the universal product code to satellite radio, SMS text messaging to the implantable insulin pump, our students, faculty, and alumni are engineering life-changing innovations for millions. Learn more at www.eng.umd.edu.