A Georgia Tech research team has received a $3.5 million grant to use tiny, power-saving analog chips to develop portable communications technology capable of scanning a broad range of radio-frequency bands for open channels.

The resulting analog spectral processors, to be developed at the Georgia Electronic Design Center, would have a range of uses, from aiding battlefield communication to enabling cellular phones to find less-crowded frequencies. ASP technology is related to the "cognitive radio" concept, which involves utilizing less-busy frequencies for optimal cell-phone and radio performance.

Farrokh Ayazi, co-director of Tech's Center for MEMS and Microsystems Technology, is principal investigator on the project. The project, led by BAE Systems Inc., has received $11 million from DARPA, of which $3.5 million will go to Georgia Tech over three years. Purdue University is also on the BAE Systems team.

"The project's goal is basically to create a small, low-power handheld device that combines a spectrum analyzer and a truly powerful communication device," said Ayazi, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"The spectrum analyzer would scan the frequency spectrum all the way from 20 megahertz to 6 gigahertz to find empty spots — channels that are receiving less use."