Gauge Newsletter September 2016 | Page 17

for undergraduate level and postgraduate ated with the lab is its resource person- ally recognized level. The production of level were introduced along with projects nel. The continuous guidance and sup- valuable research output is one of the and research associated with Microwaves. port extended to both undergraduate and ways, that high-end facilities like the They are the only courses in Sri Lanka postgraduate students by them has made microwave lab, serve its community. Such which provide exposure to design tools, it possible for them to use the resources ongoing research involved with the lab High-tech equipment, and fabrication of of the laboratory to its maximum poten- is a ‘Ground Penetrating Radar’ system MICs. What follows is a list of some tial. Among the staff of the Department which was designed solely in the Faculty cutting-edge equipment and design tools of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, of Engineering, University of Peradeniya. that are being used in the lab. academics involved directly with the lab- It is a purely Microwave related research • Microwave Network Analyzer-Can mea- oratory are; • Prof. DISALA UDUWAWALA • Dr. ARUNA GUNAWARDHANA associated with the lab which is yet to • Dr. VIJITHA HERATH • Dr. MELAKA SENADHEERA the high voltage laboratory for designing • PCB routing machine – Likes of a CNC milling machine to make routes in PCB. • Dr. RAVI WIJESIRIWARDHANA which is to be used for transformer failure sure frequencies up to 13.5GHz. • Photo-plotter -Generate the photo mask for microwave circuit fabrication. be finalized. Another successful attempt by the Microwave lab is teaming up with a dielectric strength measurement system • Spray Etcher/developer- Time and tem- prediction. These has become some of perature controlled PCB etching. Moreover, the researches carried out by many successful types of research asso- • Dry film laminator- Applies UV sensitive these individuals are at an internation- ciated with the lab and currently many quoting for microwave circuits. inspired UG and PG students are continu- • Ansoft HFSS (High-Frequency Structure ing these projects. On the other hand, Simulator) Design tool – Used to simulate along with the inauguration of the IEEE- and design microwave circuits. Microwave Theory & Techniques Society • AWR Microwave office tool - Used to (IEEE - MTT-s), University of Peradeniya simulate and design microwave circuits. Student Chapter, many enthusiastic students are currently involved with the Although these tools that worth millions lab, through projects on fields like Radio are available to students, without a proper Astronomy, Radar Technology, RFID & guidance, the only microwave laboratory Energy harvesting, Amateur Radios and in Sri Lanka will become a futile effort. Long Range Walkie-talkies. These can be Hence the most important asset associ- expected to have fruitful outcomes in the Gauge Newsletter University of Peradeniya 17