The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has agreed to donate seven spiral antennas valued at $35,000 to East Texas A&M University. Engineering seniors will use the equipment to test radar and next-generation wireless technologies in their senior design projects and prepare for the annual AFRL University Challenge, an annual engineering competition for university student teams to design and build technological solutions using software-defined radios.

With faculty guidance, students will study how to locate the source of a radio signal and measure activity across different frequencies. They'll also build and test radar and communications systems that use multiple antennas and explore how those systems can help locate objects, whether they're stationary or moving.

“This support from the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Wright Brothers Institute provides our undergraduate engineers with exceptional, hands-on experience in cutting-edge 6G applications, including directional finding for tracking stationary and non-stationary systems, as well as advanced bistatic MIMO radar technology,” said Dr. Nizar Tayem, associate professor of engineering. “By tackling complex defense and communication challenges, our students gain invaluable skills that prepare them to excel in the future technical workforce across the defense and wireless communications sectors.”

East Texas A&M students have already shown what they can do on the national stage. In April 2025, electrical engineering seniors took first place in the AFRL Software Defined Radio Challenge in Dayton, Ohio. Advised by Tayem, the team built a prototype that tracked unmanned ground vehicles in real time. The win followed four consecutive years as a finalist through 2025.

East Texas A&M's Department of Engineering and Technology fosters the development of effective problem solvers, equipping students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to build the future.