Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and the Wireless Institute at the University of Notre Dame today announced that they will establish a collaborative research initiative aimed at developing the next generation of multiple-input, multiple-output wireless technologies.

MIMO technologies involve multiple antenna systems as well as advanced signal-processing techniques. Agilent and researchers at the Wireless Institute have established a core test facility with real-time, broadband signal generation and channel emulation for MIMO wireless systems with up to four transmitter antennas and four receiver antennas.

“We are extremely grateful for Agilent’s generous donation of a 4x4 MIMO channel emulation system,” said Dr. Thomas Pratt, research associate professor in the Wireless Institute and the Department of Electrical Engineering. “This equipment will greatly impact the depth of applied research that the University of Notre Dame will be able to conduct in a number of important disciplines, including wireless communications, remote sensing and radar. The instrumentation will also give students access to state-of-the-art experimental resources to enable training and scientific investigation. This form of training connects theoretical underpinnings with hardware-based testing and is indispensable in the development of outstanding engineering students.”

The facility will help researchers with RF and baseband channel emulation for performance validation as well as interference and co-existence testing. By allowing customization of test cases, the test bed can validate designs under real-world conditions with the broadest range of test parameters. Researchers will be able to model signal propagation environments with fully parameterized, real-time emulation of multipath fading. These capabilities will accelerate the research thrusts at Notre Dame’s Wireless Institute and, ultimately, help deliver more robust wireless solutions for society.

“Agilent is delighted to support the Wireless Institute at Notre Dame and their faculty’s research into advanced wireless communications technology,” said Andy Botka, general manager and vice president of Agilent’s Microwave and Communications Division. “Wireless technology has a ubiquitous influence on our society. Using test tools to simulate real-world conditions should advance the critical work ongoing at Notre Dame.”

Agilent’s work with Notre Dame on this research reflects the company’s strong commitment to the current and future test solutions required to successfully deploy wireless technologies in the global market. For additional information, see www.agilent.com/find/MIMO, www.agilent.com/find/LTE, or www.agilent.com/find/Cellular.

About the Wireless Institute at Notre Dame

The Wireless Institute in the College of Engineering is becoming a preeminent center of research, education, technology transfer and outreach activities that develop wireless communication and networking technologies, applications, and economic and policy studies of great value to society. The Wireless Institute engages 16 faculty and roughly 65 graduate and undergraduate students from across the university, collaborates actively with commercial industry and government agencies, leverages approximately $2.5 million per year in external research funding, and manages world-leading laboratories and experimental equipment for its activities.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company’s 20,000 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $6.6 billion in fiscal 2011. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

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