RSSI-Based Evaluation of Wireless Personal Area Networks Nodes Noise Immunity in Industrial Buildings

摘要

Results of a study of the influence of manufacturing environment factors on wireless personal networks are presented in the paper. A classification of such factors is proposed, and the noise immunity of wireless personal networks is determined using a real production as an example. A method for evaluating noise immunity based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is proposed. RSSI values can be obtained natively from almost any receiver and transmitter, which makes this method affordable compared to using network analyzers and other specialized equipment. In the conducted experiment the receiver and transmitter were located at a distance ranging from 0.5 to 25 m from each other. The act of signal transfer was carried out alternately under the influence of each production environment factor. Then measured RSSI values were analyzed and converted into the maximum permissible distance between the receiver and the transmitter in accordance with the proposed method. As a result, data on the influence of a production environment on the noise immunity of wireless personal networks was obtained. Nevertheless, it is concluded that the influence is not significant enough to decide against the use of wireless personal networks, since the influence of many factors can be offset by the use of mesh topology and a dense arrangement of receivers and transmitters. The results are particularly interesting in the context of manufacturing digitalization, where the wireless method of data transmission from field level sensors becomes preferable to the wired due to the requirement for flexibility and mobility of a production process.