Two devices, a SiGe BiCMOS MOSFET and a SiGe HBT, were characterized through on-wafer measurements in the 220–500 GHz range. The results showed that the PDK model of the MOSFET did not accurately represent the device. Conventional open–short de-embedding was found to lose accuracy at sub-THz frequencies due to its inherent lumped-element approximation. To address this limitation, an improved de-embedding method was developed by estimating a correction matrix A′ using transmission-line equivalent circuits, achieving up to 15.6 dB improvement in S11 and S22 for an HBT interconnect in simulation compared to the classical approach. The characterized MOSFET was used to simulate the integrated chopper transmissivity, which closely matched over-the-air measurements. The HBT characterization showed better agreement with the PDK, but the higher characterized capacitance resulted in reduced chopper performance.

One of the major challenges faced by future robotic and human missions to Mars and the Moon is the presence of atmospheric dust. The Lunar Zebro rover which is intended to walk on the Moon is powered by solar panel. Due to its surrounding terrain, which mostly consists of small particles, the rover may be a potential target for dust accumulation, which reduces its output power. For the longevity of any space mission, it is important to have a long-lasting source of energy. That is why during this project, an Electrodynamic screen is constructed which could remove dust from a 100 x 100 mm area without containing moving parts. One subgroup concentrated on building the electronics necessary to create a high voltage (~1.6kV) three-phase drive signal, the other group focused on the electrodes of the system and described the effects of an electric field on dielectric particles. These are mostly found on the Moon. Different electrode architectures are proposed, but the zigzag architecture was found to be the best suited for a possible dust removal system. Furthermore, the higher voltage applied to the electrodes, the greater the forces exerted on the particles are. Further research should be conducted for any possible implementation. It is recommended to also read the other thesis.