ELEC ENG 4067 - Antennas & Propagation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

Antennas and propagation effects play a crucial, even though often overlooked, role in RF systems. In practice, the design of a working system such as mobile phone networks, WiFi, RFID, Satellite communication and GPS requires a good understanding of these components. This course teaches the fundamentals of antenna and propagation and shows the application in practical examples. The course covers the theory of radiation, fundamental antenna parameters and concepts, wire antennas such as dipoles and loop antennas, antenna arrays, aperture antennas (e.g. horns), microstrip antennas, numerical analysis, communication & radar systems and propagation effects.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ELEC ENG 4067
    Course Antennas & Propagation
    Coordinating Unit School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge Some basic communication and electromagnetic theory
    Course Description Antennas and propagation effects play a crucial, even though often overlooked, role in RF systems. In practice, the design of a working system such as mobile phone networks, WiFi, RFID, Satellite communication and GPS requires a good understanding of these components. This course teaches the fundamentals of antenna and propagation and shows the application in practical examples. The course covers the theory of radiation, fundamental antenna parameters and concepts, wire antennas such as dipoles and loop antennas, antenna arrays, aperture antennas (e.g. horns), microstrip antennas, numerical analysis, communication & radar systems and propagation effects.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Christophe Fumeaux

    Lecturers:
    Prof. Christophe Fumeaux
    Dr. Shengjian Jammy Chen
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Interpret the important elements of antenna and propagation theory;
    2 Calculate and apply fundamental antenna parameters;
    3 Compare important classes of antennas and their properties;
    4 Select a particular class of antenna for given specifications;
    5 Apply theoretical principles to design an antenna;
    6 Calculate the directivity and power radiated from a generic antenna;
    7 Explain techniques for estimating the propagation performance of a communication channel; and
    8 Define specifications for a communications system based on a set of requirements.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.4   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.6   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 5, 6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 7, 8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2, 3, 5, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 3, 4, 7, 8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Balanis, C., “Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design”, Wiley Interscience, Third Edition
    Recommended Resources
    Coleman, C.J. “An introduction to radio frequency engineering”, Cambridge, 2004,

    Additional resources will be provided online in MyUni during the course of the semester: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login 
    Online Learning
    Extensive use will be made of the MyUni web site for this course,
    https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login.

    Course notes, tutorial problems and solutions, assignments and additional references will all be available for downloading from the web site.

    Where the lecture theatre facilities permit, audio or video recordings of lectures will also be available
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course relies on lectures as the primary delivery mechanism for the material. Tutorials supplement the lectures by providing exercises and example problems to enhance the understanding obtained through lectures. Continuous assessment activities provide the formative assessment opportunities for students to gauge their progress and understanding.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Contact hours Workload hours
    Lecture 12 lectures 24 60
    Tutorials 10 tutorials 20 40
    In-class test 1 16
    Assignments 2 0 16
    Exam 1 2 24
    TOTALS 47 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    Activity Sessions Topic
    Lecture 1 Introduction
    2-3 Antenna Fundamentals
    4 Vector Potentials
    5 Wire Antennas
    6 Antenna Arrays
    7 Aperture Antennas
    8 Microstrip Antennas
    9-12 Propagation
    Tutorial 1 Refresher of prerequisites
    2-3 Antenna Fundamentals
    4-5 Transmission & Radar Equations
    6 Wire Antennas
    7 Antenna Arrays
    8 Microstrip Antennas
    9-10 Propagation
    Assignments 1 Fundamentals
    2 Antenna Design
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    2 Assignements 20 Individual Formative Weeks 8-10 2. 3. 5. 6.
    1 Quizz 20 Individual Summative Week 12 7. 8.
    Exam 60 Individual Summative Min 40% 1. 2. 3. 4. 8.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
     
    This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    The examination is a hurdle requirement. It is necessary to achieve at least 40% in the exam. If this is not achieved, the total course mark will be limited to a maximum of 49.

    A hurdle requirement is defined by the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs policy as "...an assessment task mandating a minimum level of performance as a condition of passing the course.
    If a student fails to meet a hurdle requirement (normally no less than 40%),and is assigned a total mark for the course in the range of 45-49, then the student is entitled to an offer of additional assessment of some type. The type of assessment is to be decided by the School Assessment Review Committee when determining final results. The student’s final total mark will be entered at no more than 49% and the offer of an additional assessment will be specified eg. US01. Once the additional assessment has been completed, this mark will be included in the calculation of the total mark for the course and the better of the two results will apply. Note however that the maximum final result for a course in which a student has sat an additional assessment will be a “50 Pass”.

    If a student is unable to meet a hurdle requirement related to an assessment piece (may be throughout semester or at semester’s end) due to medical or compassionate circumstances beyond their control, then the student is entitled to an offer of replacement assessment of some type. An interim result of RP will be entered for the student, and the student will be notified of the offer of a replacement assessment. Once the replacement assessment has been completed, the result of that assessment will be included in the calculation of the total mark for the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Details of individual assessment tasks will be provided during the semester.
    Submission
    All written submissions to formative assessment activities are to be submitted electronically, or to designated boxes within the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, by the advertised deadline and must be accompanied by a signed cover sheet. Copies of blank cover sheets are available from the School office in Ingkarni Wardli 3.26, or online in electronic form. Late submissions are not accepted unless explicit prior approval is granted by the course coordinator or Head of School. All in-term assessments will have a two week turn-around time for provision of feedback to students.

    Full details can be found at the School policies website:
    http://eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergraduate/

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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