The spectrum challenge addressed in the article indicates that, students as well as individual radio hobbyists with technological expertise and skills demonstrated their capabilities to participate in the cooperative and the competitive tournaments. In the first instance, the competitors attempted to effectively share the spectrum as they transmitted random data files from their source to destination radios. However, in the competitive tournament, two teams sought domination of the spectrum, with the winner being the first to transmit all its files within three minutes from the source radio to the destination radio. In order to ensure fairness, DARPA provided all the participants with similar radio hardware to ensure that competition was based on the software algorithms only. The main aim of this tournament was to seek the possible solutions to the problems encountered in wireless networks in the electromagnetic spectrum.
As an electrical engineer, Spectrum Challenge presents an opportunity to stimulate new technologies as well as explore my talents. Through this challenge and the efforts of the participants, I have learned that as well as innovation is important, timing is equally significant. For instance, some participants could not make to the finals because they could not complete their projects in time. In this regard, the electromagnetic spectrum experiences diverse challenges with the introduction of new technologies competing for wireless communication. Additionally, as an electrical engineer, the spectrum challenge would be very important in learning from the efforts of different teams and work to develop on their ideas as well as understand the challenges presented by the networks. Finally, the financial aspect of the rewards provides motivation to the teams. I believe that as an electrical engineer, the financial support will provide an opportunity for me to develop on my talents. I also wish to participate on the spectrum challenge some day.
Work Cited:
Spectrum Challenge Final Event Helps Pave the Way for More Robust, Resilient and Reliable Radio Communications. DARPA News. Web April 02, 2014 http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2014/04/02.aspx
