Press Release: 2025 SDR University Challenge
UPDATED April 25, 2025: Wright Brothers Institute (WBI), in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is proud to celebrate the successful conclusion of the seventh annual Software Defined Radio (SDR) University Challenge and was honored to host the 2025 SDR Showcase, a hybrid event accommodating both in-person and virtual participants, which took place on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI). The event featured presentations from the 8 finalist teams, and an open demonstration session (in-person only), followed by the awards ceremony.
WBI and AFRL congratulate the winners of the 2024-2025 SDR University Challenge!
Team Awards:
University of Dayton | 1st Place, Most Outstanding Team ($5,000)
Evan Rountree, Dylan Mitchell, Francis Kosir, Konnor Von Bargen (Senior Undergraduate Students)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Temesguen Kebede
2. University of North Dakota (SemCom 6G) | 2nd Place, First Runner-Up ($2,000)
Shadman Rahman Doha, Istiak Mahmud, Daniel Perez Fiadzeawu, William Valentine (PhD Students)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ahmed Abdelhadi
3. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (GNOATs) | 3rd Place, Second Runner-Up ($1,000)
Smriti Shankar, Nicolás Mejía Muñoz (Senior Undergraduate Students), Rupin Raj Kumar Pradeep, (Master's Student), Tatiana Dragun (Junior Undergraduate Student)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Alexander M. Wyglinski
Individual Student Travel Grant Awards:
Asif Muhammad, PhD Student, University of Houston ($1,000)
Jin Feng Lin, PhD Student, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ($1,000)
SDR Showcase Follow-Up Information: Video Recordings and PowerPoint Presentations:
Video recording of the finalist teams’ presentations: https://youtu.be/uuZ_D6KmFro
Video recording of awards ceremony: https://youtu.be/jggtHKHvDRI
Download finalist teams’ presentations:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c2N1RIveiUIzmsPkbIyUwcVEajLLGiBt/view
Download award ceremony presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x_dbEyxKqciGnxPLoJv4yafaayHIRnLz/view
Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a platform deemed ideal for exploring communication, sensing and networking applications: it is expected that SDR architects will be in high demand because of the highly congested electromagnetic environment. SDR allows enhancement of wireless devices via software upgrades, as opposed to traditional hardware-based radio, which requires physical intervention. Each team was given an SDR kit provided by the company National Instruments (part of Emerson), then turned loose to apply their skill and imagination in the design and prototyping of an SDR application of their choice. WBI and AFRL jointly designed this Challenge to enhance current technology portfolios and attract the next generation workforce for this technology area. The Challenge runs annually and follows the academic year (October–April), with the teams checking in regularly via monthly teleconferences to report their progress and collect feedback. A total of 20 university teams across the United States participated in this challenge, with the top 8 teams invited to the Final Showcase event in Dayton. At this year's SDR University Challenge Showcase, the teams' working prototypes were evaluated by a panel of SDR experts, culminating in the awards presentation on April 25, where $10,000 in prizes were awarded. The public was invited to attend teams’ presentations, live demonstrations and the awards ceremony.
Here are the 20 university teams that participated in this year’s Challenge, with the 8 finalist teams highlighted in bold (listed in alphabetical order):
Brigham Young University (ICE Lab)
East Texas A&M University
Rutgers University
The University of Texas at Arlington & Rice University
University of Dayton
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Corsailers)
University of North Dakota (SemCom 6G)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (GNOATs)
California State University, Fresno & Rice University
Florida International University (Digital Prowlers)
Florida International University (Pipe Initiative)
Kennesaw State University
Stevens Institute of Technology (Signal Seekers)
University of Calgary (WAVES)
University of Connecticut (SDR Huskies)
University of Georgia (SunLab-UGA)
University of Houston
University of Louisville
University of Massachusetts Boston (UCaNLab)
University of North Dakota (Deep OFDM)
About Wright Brothers Institute
Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) is a cutting-edge innovation and technology commercialization center for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, with facilities located just outside of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, OH. We drive fast, agile innovation that enables successful technology development to solve the Air Force’s most complex challenges by leveraging resident experts, unique facilities, disruptive innovation processes, and extensive networks. We leverage subject matter experts and intellectual property from AFRL and SBIR companies to unlock the right problem, connect to new partners and synchronize transition pathways through our commercialization partners. To receive updates about future events at all Wright Brothers Institute locations, visit www.wbi-innovates.com and follow Wright Brothers Institute on X @wbiinnovates, on Facebook @WBIInnovates and on LinkedIn at Wright Brothers Institute.