Students Scientific Club Spektrum

The Science Club Spektrum at the Institute of Radiocommunications of Poznań University of Technology brings together students who are passionate about radiocommunication. Our aim is to expand knowledge in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, and modern wireless systems.

Within the Club’s activities, we carry out research projects that combine skills from areas such as radiocommunication, electronics, programming, signal processing, data analysis, embedded systems, 3D printing, and other related technologies.

We organize meetings with representatives from academia and industry, as well as visits to sites involved in radiocommunication and new technologies. We present our achievements at both internal and external events, promoting Poznań University of Technology and fostering scientific development among students.

Contact details:

Chairperson: Marta Sieradzka
Vice-Chairperson: Adam Michalak

Secretaries: Marek Marczak and Cyryl Prentki

Circle supervisors: Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Cichoń and Dr. Eng. Jarosław Szóstka

E-mail: spectrum[at]put.poznan.pl

Project Descriptions

Phantom6G (SKNTI):

The aim of the “Phantom6G” project is to design and build phantoms of selected parts of the human body, verify their material parameters, and measure their heating under the frequency bands planned for 6G. Fabrication of the phantoms will require creating 3D models and producing molds using modern additive-manufacturing techniques. It will also be possible to make a plaster cast (e.g., of a hand), create a digital twin of that hand, 3D-print the mold, and then fill it with a specialized mixture that, once set, becomes the phantom. Determining the correct mixture ratios will be one of the project’s key tasks. Through an iterative process—adjusting the mixture composition, filling the phantom, and verifying material parameters by measurement—we will identify the optimal formula for a measurement phantom. This approach allows us to replicate parameters related to electric-field strength (V/m) or magnetic-field strength (A/m) for various tissue types (e.g., skin, muscle), organs (e.g., breast), or body parts (e.g., head, hand). The primary objective is to assess the phantom’s temperature rise as a function of detailed signal parameters, such as center frequency, transmitted power, modulation scheme, and whether the excitation is narrowband or wideband.

Radio Telescope:

This project involves building a radio telescope, the necessary support infrastructure, and the programmable signal-processing module. The main goal is to observe the Sun by capturing its emitted electromagnetic waves, enabling year-round monitoring of solar behavior, including solar flares. A motorized, antenna-rotation system will track the Sun’s movement across the sky. The core of the project is processing and analyzing the received signals using custom Python software. The software pipeline will prepare raw data for analysis, collect it for comparison, visualize the results, and perform detailed data analysis. The end product will be an integrated system capable of observing and tracking celestial objects.

Plant Growth under Electromagnetic Fields:

The goal of this study is to investigate how electromagnetic fields affect plant growth by building a dedicated experimental setup. So far, we have constructed a TEM-line system for controlled electromagnetic-field exposure and built growth chambers equipped with automated monitoring and irrigation systems, ensuring stable growth conditions. Our monitoring setup continuously records humidity, temperature, light intensity, and field exposure. We are now entering the project’s critical phase: comparing the growth dynamics of plants exposed to an electromagnetic field with those grown under traditional conditions. The results will reveal whether—and how—field exposure influences plant development and growth processes.

I-ASPEES-5G Measurement System:

This project set out to develop a measurement system based on channel-sounding techniques to perform accurate, comprehensive propagation-characteristic measurements in IoT and 5G scenarios. The setup features a horn antenna mounted on a two-axis gimbal driven by stepper motors for horizontal and vertical rotation. Received data are processed by a spectrum analyzer and logged for further analysis on a microcomputer. Structural components were fabricated via 3D printing, enabling precise, customizable support for the system’s elements.

Shielding-Paint Attenuation Study:

The objective of this experiment was to compare the electromagnetic-wave attenuation performance of a specialized shielding paint against a standard (non-shielding) paint. We constructed two identical enclosures with the same dimensions and physical properties. One box was coated with ordinary paint lacking shielding properties; the other was coated with the specialized paint formulated to absorb and reflect electromagnetic waves. After the coatings cured, we performed tests across multiple frequencies. A transmitter was mounted outside each box and a receiver inside; we then measured the received signal strength. The results showed that the standard-paint box offered minimal attenuation, allowing signals to penetrate freely, whereas the shielding-paint box significantly reduced signal intensity. Attenuation varied with frequency, indicating the paint’s selective shielding characteristics.