• The participant should be a bonafide student, studying a course of engineering (BE/ B.Tech, M.E./ M.Tech., PhD.) in a recognized college/university. This contest is not open to working professionals enrolled as external/part-time candidates for any such course.
• Students can form a team limited to a maximum of 4 members either from the same institution or multiple institutions. The prize money may be shared in such a case.
• All entries must be submitted with part-a, b and c of the deliverables in the selected problem statement to mapcon2025.sdc@gmail.com before the deadline. The qualifying entries will be notified by SDC team to travel to MAPCON 2025, Kochi with the realized designs. This will eventually lead to the winners who will be honored during the MAPCON 2025 Awards Banquet.
• Finalists should present the fabricated prototype, experimental measurements along with other deliverables during MAPCON 2025 for final round.
• Decisions made by the MACPCON 2025 SDC jury shall be final and binding on all participants. No representations shall be entertained post event.
• Each shortlisted team will receive financial support of 5000 INR as contingency support.

Introduction

Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) are essential components in the receive chain of wireless systems, boosting weak signals while adding minimal noise. The 2.4–2.6 GHz ISM band is widely used for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and emerging IoT applications. Designing an efficient LNA at this band allows students to understand RF matching, stability, and PCB layout challenges, all within a frequency range supported by commonly available test equipment (e.g., VNA up to 3 GHz).

Design Specifications and Rules

• Frequency Band: 2.4–2.6 GHz (ISM band)
• Target Gain: >10 dB across band
• Noise Figure: <2.0 dB (simulated)
• Return Loss: >10 dB at input and output
• Stability: Unconditionally stable across 1–4 GHz
• Technology: PCB with:
  • Discrete low-noise transistor (or equivalent device )( e.g., BFP640, ATF54143)
  • Substrate: FR4 or RF-grade laminate (e.g., Rogers RO4003)
• Must include:
  • Biasing network
  • Input/output matching circuits
  • Simulation of S-parameters, NF, stability
  • Fabricated PCB with SMA connectors

Evaluation Process and Scoring

• Design Documentation & Schematic: 15 points
• Simulation Results (Gain, NF, S11/S22, K-factor): 25 points
• Stability Analysis: 10 points
• PCB Layout Quality: 10 points
• Hardware Demo/Measurement: 10 points
• Documentation and Report: 10 points
• Application Justification: 5 points
• Total: 80 points

Introduction

Modern communication systems must often coexist with nearby radar signals, especially in the 5–6 GHz range, where Wi-Fi (UNII bands) and radar (e.g., weather, military) share spectrum. A wideband tunable bandstop (notch) filter can suppress interfering radar signals while passing desired communication bands. This project will challenge students to design a tunable filter with either varactor or PIN diode tuning elements.

Design Specifications and Rules

• Frequency Band: Notch centered between 5.1 GHz – 6.0 GHz
• Tuning Range: At least 500 MHz of center frequency shift
• Notch Depth: >20 dB minimum rejection
• Passband Insertion Loss: <1.5 dB outside notch
• Technology: Microstrip filter on FR4 or Rogers substrate
• Tuning: Varactor, PIN diode, or manually switchable stub
• Must provide:
  • Full schematic and layout
  • Simulation plots (S21, S11)
  • Explanation of tuning method
  • Fabricated PCB

Evaluation Process and Scoring

• Filter Topology and Innovation : 15 points
• Simulation Results (Tuning, S21, S11) : 25 points
• Quality of Tuning Mechanism : 10 points
• PCB Design Readiness or Fabrication : 10 points
• Hardware Demo/Measurement : 10 points
• Application Relevance and Justification : 5 points
• Report and Presentation : 5 points
• Total : 80 points

Introduction

Microwave energy harvesting with rectennas are getting popular in recent times. The incident signals on an antenna are directed to a rectifier with Schottky diode to get the DC signals. This resultant power can be employed efficiently to drive the load, which can be the sensors for IoT applications. Thus, an antenna fed to a microwave rectifier can operate as a rectenna, when the individual units are systematically developed. This project involves realizing a microwave energy harvester with a compact rectenna unit which is operating with incident WiFi signals.

Design Specifications and Rules

• Frequency Range: 2.4 GHz
• Operational bandwidth: 30 MHz
• Antenna gain: >3 dBi
• Antenna beamwidth: >40^o
• Maximum RF to DC conversion efficiency: > 50%
• Input power range with efficiency >20%: >20 dBm
• Output voltage: >200 mV
• PCB-based design using:
  • Discrete Schottky diode (eg. SMS7630)
  • FR4 or any microwave graded substrate (eg. RO4350B)
• Deliverables:
  • Schematic and rectenna circuit
  • Simulation of rectifier efficiency and matching
  • Simulation of the antenna gain pattern and matching
  • Fabricated rectenna board with DC output and conversion efficiency

Evaluation Process and Scoring

• Design Architecture: 15 points
• Simulation Accuracy (Efficiency, matching): 20 points
• Output Voltage and Maximum efficiency: 10 points
• Antenna gain pattern: 10 points
• Rectenna Demo/Measurement: 10 points
• Clarity in Report and rectenna performance: 10 points
• Application Relevance: 5 points
• Total: 80 points

Introduction

Antenna arrays are popularly employed for detection and ranging applications. Improved gain and flexibility to steer the beam with change in excitations make the array configurations suitable for diverse applications. The beam steering can be achieved using passive networks (Butler, Nolan etc.) or by applying active elements of phase shifters or switches.

Design Specifications and Rules

• Operating frequency: 4 GHz
• Bandwidth: >200 MHz
• Gain: >12 dBi
• Angular scan range: ±45^o
• Number of steered beam directions: ≥4
• Return loss: > 15 dB
• PCB-based design using:
• FR4 or any microwave graded substrate (eg. RO4350B)
• Deliverables:
  • Linear antenna array design
  • Simulation of linear array without beam steering network.
  • Simulation of linear array with beam steering network
  • Fabricated antenna array with steering network

Evaluation Process and Scoring

• Design Architecture: 15 points
• Simulation Accuracy (antenna performance, steering): 20 points
• Array performance without steering: 10 points
• Array performance with steering: 10 points
• Array Demo/Measurement: 10 points
• Clarity in Report and array performance: 10 points
• Application Relevance: 5 points
• Total: 80 points