Basic Information

  • Project Title / Domain: Channel tracking in Cell-free MIMO systems
  • Name: Varad Deshpande
  • Guide: Kumar Appaiah
  • Project Type: theoretical and implementation

Short Description of Project

Derivation of mathematically sound tracking algorithms for wireless channels in cell free mMIMO systems, and characterisation of throughput improvements reinforced by empirical validation.

Whom did you work with?

The prof directly

Tools / Simulation / Software / Hardware

My pen and a python terminal :)

Expectations from Guide

The gentle nudge that clears confusion/uncertainty is I believe, underrated. Kumar sir would nudge me in the correct direction and this took me far.

Expectations for 8th Sem & Summer

I expected my guide to give me time every week and I am lucky to have met a very good professor who encouraged reading and discussion. He would hold meets with me in December as well. I wanted to pursue an internship in summer, and hoped that my prof would allow it given that I made progress on my DDP in 8th semester.

Load: 8th Sem vs 9th (Placement) Sem

8th sem was heavy for me by my own design. Worked on DDP seriously to make time for intern in summer. In the 9th sem, 5thies will invariably take 1-2 courses to work on DDP and prepare for placements. Apart from the placement pressure, 9th sem is relatively chill compared to other sems, as DDP is usually of an explorative nature and no fixed clockwork like courses.

Summer on Campus

Didn’t stay in insti over summer as I went away for an internship.

Is DDP Guide Same as SRE/RnD Guide?

Yes

How did your SRE help with your DDP?

My guide structured the DDP problem very well. SRE was spent in background reading and understanding + replication of foundational papers in my area. The idea was to develop a tracking algorithm but keeping in mind the design principles of cell free systems. So the real work started after my SRE.

End Deliverables

Coming up with an algorithm for channel tracking and empirically validating its performance.

Advice

Please make it a point to meet your professor at least weekly/biweekly! Does not matter if you have made very little/no progress. Keeping in touch with your professor regularly pushes your progress gradient in the correct direction.

Also never hesitate to ask for help, your “guide” is here to GUIDE you!