Personal information

Biography

He was born on 1955. M.S. and Ph. D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 1977 and 1982, respectively. From 1976 to 1989 he was with the UPM and in the University of Cantabria from 1989 to 1998. He is currently Professor at the University of Alcalá, Spain.

He was the key developer of the CG-FFT (Conjugate Gradient Fast Fourier Transform) method. He has published a monograph and several pioneering papers (e.g. in 1986) on this topic. This method, together with its new extensions, still remains the most efficient method for volume integral equations today.

He introduced the usage of NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational Bi-Splines). In the case of Method of Moment (MoM), the extensive use of NURBS is an original contribution of Dr. Cátedra. He proposed a generalization of the rooftop basis functions that extend over pairs of curved sub-patches defined directly over the NURBS employed to represent the geometry. This represents an important advance in applied computational electromagnetics because (i) the computational methods are more efficient working directly with NURBS, and (ii) it does not require any re-meshing for the electromagnetic analysis, and it can works directly with the same geometrical model used in other industrial analyses.

In the case of high frequency methods, he developed a new approach based on the application of the Stationary Phase Method for perfect electric conductors and coated bodies modeled by NURBS to allow efficient and accurate analyses of antennas on or conformal to curved bodies. This approach is being widely applied for antennas in complex platforms such as aircraft and satellites. More recently, Dr. Cátedra has incorporated the “current modes” that provide a very efficient way to represent electrical currents and fields using NURBS over large surfaces and to compute the physical optics integrals of multiple bounces using quasi-analytical expressions.

He introduced modern ray tracing techniques to accelerate the electromagnetic computation in asymptotic methods. He was the first to develop the Angular Z-Buffer (AZB) technique, and the hybrid method that combines the AZB technique, the Volumetric Space Partitioning and the A* heuristic search algorithms. This hybrid method is extremely efficient, especially for very complex bodies with multiple reflections. It has allowed the development of computer tools for channel modeling and frequency planning in mobile communications using realistic models, and the simulation of the radar cross section (RCS) of complex targets interacting with their environment.

He developed advanced rigorous simulation technique combining Multilevel Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM) and the Characteristic Basis Function Method (CBFM). This represents a high increment in the efficiency of the MLFMM because thank to the CBFs the number of unknown are reduced drastically and also the condition number of the system of equations that permits to get the solution with a smaller number of iterations in the solver used. Thanks to this improvement, new problems previously untreatable can be solved.

More recently, he is improving methods to solve material multilayer structures for periodic cases and finite-sized cases. In the improved methods, he define new periodic equivalent problems obtained by splitting the geometry of plane conductor in pixels. The current is expanded in rooftops defined over pairs of Bezier patches and a MoM system is obtained by testing using generalized razor-blade functions. The rooftops are expanded in terms of pulses defined over the mentioned pixels. The near field and far field coupling between the rooftop is obtained using FFTs of the pulse expansions. The resulting methods permit efficient analyses and designs of reflectarrays, transmitarrays, phase arrays, frequency selective surfaces and metamaterials.

Dr. Cátedra has developed also now approaches for the simulation of radio systems and ultrasound systems for automatic driving combining MLFMM and ray-tracing solving cases of Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications and FMCW Radar systems for companies like Volvo Car and FICOSA.

He has worked on about 120 research projects solving problems of Electromagnetic Compatibility in Radio and Telecommunication Equipments Antennas, Microwave Components and Radar Cross Section and Mobile Communications. Recently he promoted the creation of a technology-based company of the University of Alcalá called NEWFASANT (www.fasant.com) for a better transfer of techniques developed by the research team he leads. Now NEWFASANT is integrated in the Altair Group, one of the first World companies developing simulation software in many engineering areas.

Dr. Catedra has lead teams in the University of Alcala and in NEWFASANT for the development of computer tools for the simulation and design tools of radomes, reflectarrays and other antennas.

Activities

Employment (1)

University of Alcalá: Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, ES

1998-07-19 to present | Professor (Computer Sciences)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Education and qualifications (2)

Polytechnic University of Madrid: Madrid, Madrid, ES

1977-10-01 to 1982-09-15 | Ph Dr Telecommunication (Signal, Systems and Radio)
Qualification
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Polythechnic University of Madrid: Madrid, Madrid, ES

1972-10-01 to 1977-09-30 | Master on Engineering (Signal, Systems and Radio)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Professional activities (3)

IEEE: New York, NY, US

1978-10-01 to present
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

IEEE: New York, NY, US

2020-10-01 | LIFE FELLOW IEEE
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

IEEE: New York, NY, US

2008-10-01 | FELLOW IEEE
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Funding (7)

Advanced algorithms for computational electromagnetics

2019-12 to 2024-12 | Contract
ALTAIR SOFTWARE AND SERVICES (Madrid, Madrid, ES)
GRANT_NUMBER: 80/2019
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Avance en la solución de problemas electromagnéticos multiescala

2018-01 to 2021-08 | Grant
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Madrid, Madrid, ES)
GRANT_NUMBER: TEC2017-89456-R
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Adaptación y suministro de módulo newFASANT para el análisis de reflectarrays

2016-01 to 2016-12 | Contract
Jet Propulsion Laborotary/NASA (Los Angeles, California, US)
GRANT_NUMBER: 1541797
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Channel modeling for aeronautical applications and urban traffic

2014-01 to 2017-12 | Grant
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MADRID, ES)
GRANT_NUMBER: TEC2013-46587-R
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Simulate electromagnetic wave propagation and evaluate radar sensor performance

2013-01 to 2017-12 | Contract
VOLVO-CAR (Gothenburg, SE)
GRANT_NUMBER: 4150247366
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Mejora y aplicación de herramientas de ordenador para el análisis y optimización de propagación, de dispersión electromagnética y antenas

2011-01 to 2014-12 | Grant
Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (Madrid, Madrid, ES)
GRANT_NUMBER: TEC2010-15706
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra

Terahertz Technology for Electromagnetic Sensing Application: TeraSense

2008-12 to 2013-12 | Grant
Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Madrid, Madrid, ES)
Source: Self-asserted source
Felipe Catedra