Practical Evaluations of SEFDM: Timing Offset and Multipath Impairments

The non-orthogonal signal waveform spectrally efficient frequency division multiplexing (SEFDM) improves spectral efficiency at the cost of self-created inter carrier interference (ICI). As the orthogonal property, similar to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), no longer exists, the robustness of SEFDM in realistic wireless environments might be weakened. This work aims to evaluate the sensitivity of SEFDM to practical channel distortions using a professional experiment testbed. First, timing offset is studied in a bypass channel to locate the imperfection of the testbed and its impact on SEFDM signals. Then, the joint effect of a multipath frequency selective channel and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) is investigated in the testbed. Through practical experiments, we demonstrate the performance of SEFDM in realistic radio frequency (RF) environments and verify two compensation methods for SEFDM. Our results show first frequency-domain compensation works well in frequency non-selective channel conditions while time-domain compensation method is suitable for frequency selective channel conditions. This work paves the way for the application of SEFDM in different channel scenarios

Chaos Synchronization in Visible Light Communications with Variable Delays Induced by Multipath Fading

Visible Light Communication (VLC) uses light-emitting diodes to provide wireless connectivity in public environments. Transmission security in this emerging channel is not trivial. Chaotic modulation techniques can provide encryption directly in the physical layer based on the random-alike evolution and strong synchronization prospect given by deterministic chaos. In secure chaotic inclusion or embedding methods, continuous-time chaos oscillator models need to be synchronized via a coupling carrier. Here we present a first numerical simulation study for the impact of the variable delays induced by line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight multipath fading in complete chaotic synchronization. More precisely, we analyze a chaotic Colpitts oscillator that is simultaneously transmitting the carrier to several mobile receivers via nine spotlights. Such induced delays depend on both the receiver position and the carrier frequency, influencing the complete synchronization required in modulation via chaotic inclusion. Correlation values for several receiver positions and carrier frequencies are presented, examining the progressive emergence of the multipath effect and its impact on chaotic synchronization. We show that, for the chaotic oscillator and coupling applied in the defined room settings, complete chaotic synchronization can be achieved and that it is robust up to the tens of MHz region

Throughput and Range Performance Investigation for IEEE 802.11a, 802.11n and 802.11ac Technologies in an On-Campus Heterogeneous Network Environment

This paper presents an analysis and measurement results for an experimental study on throughput, range and efficiency performance of IEEE 802.11a, 802.11n and 802.11ac standards in an indoor environment on a typical University Campus. The investigation considers a number of key system features including PHY layers mainly, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), Channel Bonding and Short-Guard Interval (SGI) in the heterogeneous wireless network. The experiment is carried out for the IEEE 802.11ac standard along with the legacy protocols 802.11a/n in a heterogeneous environment which is typically deployed on Campus. The results compare the maximum throughput of IEEE 802.11 standard amendments, in terms of theoretical and experimental throughput over TCP and UDP protocols for different set of parameters and features to check their efficiency and range. To achieve this desired goal, different tests are proposed. The result of these tests will help to determine the capability of each protocol and their efficiency in a practical heterogeneous on-campus environment

Experimental Characterization of RGB LED Transceiver in Low-Complexity LED-to-LED Link

This paper proposes a low-complexity and energy-efficient light emitting diode (LED)-to-LED communication system for Internet of Things (IoT) devices with data rates up to 200 kbps over an error-free transmission distance up to 7 cm. The system is based on off-the-shelf red-green-blue (RGB) LEDs, of which the red sub-LED is employed as photodetector in photovoltaic mode while the green sub-LED is the transmitter. The LED photodetector is characterized in the terms of its noise characteristics and its response to the light intensity. The system performance is then analysed in terms of bandwidth, bit error rate (BER) and the signal to noise ratio (SNR). A matched filter is proposed, which optimises the performance and increases the error-free distance

A Systematic Analysis and Design of a High Gain Microstrip Antenna based on a Single EBG Layer

In this paper, an Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) lens of a single layer is invented to improve the gain of a truncated slotted square patch antenna for the Wi-Fi applications. The proposed EBG lens is structured from 55 planar array. The individual unit cell is basically shaped as a couple of a split concave conductive patch. The proposed EBG struc- ture performance is tested numerically using Finite Integration Technique (FIT) formulations of CSTMWS and analytically using circuit theory. Then, the antenna performance in terms of |S11|, the boresight gain, and radiation patterns are reported and compared to the performance before introducing the EBG lens to identify the significant enhancements. The proposed EBG antenna is simulated numerically inside FIT formulations of CSTMWS time domain (TD) solver. A significant gain enhancement of 11.1 dBi at 2.45 GHz and a front to back ratio (F/B) about 22 dB are achieved after introducing the EBG lens. The antenna performance is validated using a frequency domain (FD) solver based CSTMWS formulations to obtain excellent agreements between the two invoked methods

An analysis of the impact of LED tilt on visible light positioning accuracy

Whereas the impact of photodiode noise and reflections is heavily studied in Visible Light Positioning (VLP), an often underestimated deterioration of VLP accuracy is caused by tilt of the Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Small LED tilts may be hard to avoid and can have a significant impact on the claimed centimeter-accuracy of VLP systems. This paper presents a Monte-Carlo-based simulation study of the impact of LED tilt on the accuracy of Received Signal Strength (RSS)-based VLP for different localization approaches. Results show that trilateration performs worse than (normalized) Least Squares algorithms, but mainly outside the LED square. Moreover, depending on inter-LED distance and LED height, median tilt-induced errors are in the range between 1 and 6 cm for small LED tilts, with errors scaling linearly with the LED tilt severity. Two methods are proposed to estimate and correct for LED tilts and their performance is compared

Survey of millimeter-wave propagation measurements and models in indoor environments

The millimeter-wave (mmWave) is expected to deliver a huge bandwidth to address the future demands for higher data rate transmissions. However, one of the major challenges in the mmWave band is the increase in signal loss as the operating frequency increases. This has attracted several research interests both from academia and the industry for indoor and outdoor mmWave operations. This paper focuses on the works that have been carried out in the study of the mmWave channel measurement in indoor environments. A survey of the measurement techniques, prominent path loss models, analysis of path loss and delay spread for mmWave in different indoor environments is presented. This covers the mmWave frequencies from 28 GHz to 100 GHz that have been considered in the last two decades. In addition, the possible future trends for the mmWave indoor propagation studies and measurements have been discussed. These include the critical indoor environment, the roles of artificial intelligence, channel characterization for indoor devices, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and mmWave for 6G systems. This survey can help engineers and researchers to plan, design, and optimize reliable 5G wireless indoor networks. It will also motivate the researchers and engineering communities towards finding a better outcome in the future trends of the mmWave indoor wireless network for 6G systems and beyond

INNOVATIVE INTEGRATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY DECISION MAKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Health and Safety (H&S) has been one of the key issues in the design and implementation of projects within the construction sector. At the design stage of a project, usually designers are accused of failing to appreciate most of the construction processes that will optimise safety and minimise cost. Therefore, clients and other stakeholders are apprehensive as to whether the designer’s input should be fully integrated through other known ways. Also, within a continuation in the downstream end (i.e., construction and facilities management) professional processes used are not fully appreciated by designers. As such these sets of practitioners need to learn fully from each other and integrate their knowledge and skills to close the existing knowledge gap among practitioners. Modern technological innovations have given us new ways of understanding and finding solutions to such existing problems with most professionals working in a collaborative way. Such collaborative ways can enhance learning and cross pollination of professionals within an organisation and across organisations. However, the evidence through data collection is not captured across projects. This conceptual paper aims to integrate modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other software applications (such as BIM, IoT, and Digital Twins) to be used within the construction industry setting to understand and augment the learning of all practitioners. An exploratory qualitative research approach through literature review is used in the development of the conceptual framework for the implementation of H&S management that will inform future detailed developments of this proposed innovative approach