NI & TU-Dresden partner on 5G mobile network research

National Instruments has collaborated with Technical University of Dresden (TU-Dresden), Germany, for the exploration of new technologies for 5G wireless systems using NI LabVIEW system design software. This research will include a variety of system concepts and there is a special focus on the evolution of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) technology.

The 5G wireless lab will be one of the first in the world and the research results will be used to determine global standards for the next phase of wireless communications, claimed a press release. Research on 5G wireless systems is in its infancy as 3.5G and 4G systems are still largely in development. TU-Dresden previously pioneered 3G systems research in conjunction with the Vodafone Chair Mobile Communications Systems, which is dedicated to cutting-edge research in wireless communication technology, added the release.

"National Instruments RF and communications tools will enable us to design OFDM prototyping systems within a single software design flow," said Dr. Gerhard Fettweis, head of the Vodafone Chair Mobile Communications Systems. He added, "With the modular NI PXI system, we can start with a SISO link and expand to complex MIMO configuration with limited modifications to the code, exceeding an 8x8 setup, as our research evolves."

"TU-Dresden is one of the world's top research universities, and they're leading the way in groundbreaking research to prototype next-generation wireless communication systems. We are proud to accelerate the development of future technologies that will ultimately impact anyone who uses a cellphone," said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and co-founder of National Instruments.