Collaborative Research: SWIFT: AI-based Sensing for Improved Resiliency via Spectral Adaptation with Lifelong Learning

Resilience to interference via improved spectrum access requires fast sensing, cognition, and actionable intelligence to algorithmically enforce compliance in real-time. The ability to measure spectrum usage, quantify legitimate uses, detect violations and enforce compliance directly leads to improved spectrum utilization, coexistence of multiple competing users, and enhanced security. To this end, this SWIFT project will demonstrate a system for spectral situational awareness through radio frequency (RF) machine learning (ML). The key objective is to obtain actionable spectrum intelligence in the sub-6 GHz legacy bands through a real-time understanding of waveform shapes, spectral content, and modulation schemes. The research will create lifelong incremental learning approaches to spectrum management and dynamic spectrum access, enabled by advanced hardware innovations.

The project is expected to improve at least 100x over software-based systems, through a combination of array processing, reliable AI with lifelong learning algorithms, low-complexity AI, and digital signal processing. Specifically, AI techniques will be used to achieve spectrum intelligence, and more specifically data driven techniques, such as deep learning, towards real-time processing of wideband multi-directional RF signals carrying a diverse set of waveforms, modulations, and protocols. Led by Florida International University (FIU) - South Florida's largest public research R1 university with 67+% Hispanic students, this SWIFT team will include many under-represented students, who in summer research, will learn key concepts in spectrum sensing. PIs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will spearhead efforts in mentoring women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The PI at Northeastern University will focus on creating graduate teaching materials in wireless communications and RF-ML based on Colosseum (the world's largest RF emulator) and the PAWR platforms. The team will develop and maintain public open datasets for training AI radios for usability and reproducibility of the scientific community.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.