WARP, short for "Wireless Access Research Platform," is a flexible and scalable open-source hardware platform designed for wireless research and prototyping. Developed by Rice University, it allows researchers to design, test, and evaluate wireless protocols and systems in real-world environments. The platform is built around a reconfigurable FPGA, providing the computational power needed to implement advanced wireless algorithms and protocols. WARP supports multiple radio transceivers, enabling multi-antenna systems and complex wireless networks.
One of WARP's key features is its extensibility, allowing users to add custom hardware and software components tailored to specific research needs. It also includes a comprehensive software suite, including a real-time operating system and tools for signal processing and network management. WARP's versatility has made it a popular choice in academic and industrial research, contributing to advancements in wireless communication technologies, including 5G and beyond.