Position
MS student
Background
Ben’s postgraduate studies at the Spatial Engineering Research Centre led directly to employment with "RF Technology", one of Australia’s leading RF communication solution providers. His research focused on the real-time implementation of a novel method to enhance the security of wireless communications. The method was implemented using software defined radio and "GNU radio", an open source communications development package. The research concluded with a successful live demonstration of the communications system, in which a text-based message was transmitted and received over a distance of 30 meters. Results were promising and showed strong potential for further development such as migration to an FPGA-based platform.
Ben Litchfield gave a highly successful communications technology demonstration in Auckland in May 2017. The demonstration was the culmination of a year’s work for the newly graduated Master's student, whose studies involved the implementation of a novel method to enhance the security of wireless communications in software defined radio. During the demonstration, a text-based message utilising this technology was successfully transmitted over a distance of 30m in front of a live audience.
Afterwards, Ben said that he “ …felt a little apprehensive about transmitting over that distance, as it was further than I’d ever tried before, but we decided to just go for it and it all worked out”. Feedback from the industry sponsor was very positive. Aside from commenting on the great results from the live demonstration, the sponsor also added that “ (The test system was) replicated it entirely on our own equipment. This now allows me to re-demonstrate the system at any time".
Ben’s postgraduate studies at the Spatial Engineering Research Centre have sine led directly to employment with "RF Technology", one of Australia’s leading RF communication solution providers.
