The USRP, or Universal Software Radio Peripheral, is a hardware platform used for software-defined radio (SDR) applications. It allows users to transmit and receive radio signals across a wide range of frequencies, making it versatile for various communication systems. The USRP connects to a computer via USB or Ethernet, enabling the use of software to control its functions and process signals. Developed by Ettus Research, the USRP is popular in both academic and industrial settings for research, development, and experimentation in wireless communications. It supports various open-source software frameworks, such as GNU Radio, which simplifies the design and implementation of radio systems.