Modeling of Data Transmission Process for Wireless Sensors on Rotating Structures

The objective of this project was to understand and model the data transmission performance of wireless sensors on industrial rotating structures. Key research activities included:

1. Modeling and verifying the effects of antenna directive gain, Doppler shift, and time-variant multipath fading as well as the coupled effects of the aforementioned radio phenomena on rotating wireless sensors’ data transmission performance, and
2. Validating the proposed data transmission performance model using a designed wireless torque sensor.

The intellectual merit included:

1. Understanding of the effects of multipath fading, Doppler shift, and antenna directivity on signal transmission,
2. Systematic experiment approach to decouple and characterize environment factors and data transmission performance, and
3. Methodology for predicting data transmission performance based on rotation and sensor placement parameters.

The broader impacts were:

1. Providing a research foundation for wireless sensor network enabled manufacturing plant floor monitoring research and applications,
2. Improving manufacturing competitiveness by advocating wireless technologies,
3. Broadening participation of underrepresented groups and community students, and
4. Establishing cross-disciplinary education via wireless sensor network curriculum.

Publications

1. K.-C. Wang, J. Jacob, L. Tang, and Y. Huang, "Transmission error analysis and avoidance for IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensors on rotating structures," International Journal of Sensor Networks, 6(3/4), 224-233, (Nov 2009).
2. L. Tang, K.-C. Wang, and Y. Huang, "Performance evaluation and reliable implementation of data transmission for wireless sensors on rotating mechanical structures," Structural Health Monitoring, An International Journal, 8, 113-124, (March 2009).
3. K.-C. Wang, J. Jacob, L. Tang, and Y. Huang, "Transmission error avoidance for IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensors on rotating structures," in Proceedings of the International Workshop on Sensor Networks at IEEE ICCCN"08, pp. 1-6 (August 2008).