Wireless Channel Assessment of Auditoriums for the Deployment of Augmented Reality Systems for Enhanced Show Experience of Impaired Persons

[Abstract] Auditoriums and theaters are buildings in which concerts, shows, and conferences are held, offering a diverse and dynamic cultural program to citizens. Unfortunately, people with impairments usually have difficulties in fully experiencing all the provided cultural activities, since such environments are not totally adapted to their necessities. For example, in an auditorium, visually impaired users have to be accompanied to their seats by staff, as well as when the person wants to leave the event in the middle of the show (e.g., to go to the toilet), or when he/she wants to move around during breaks. This work is aimed at improving the autonomy of disabled people within the mentioned kinds of environments, as well as enhancing their show experiences by deploying wireless sensor networks and wireless body area networks connected to an augmented reality device (Microsoft HoloLens smart glasses). For that purpose, intensive measurements have been taken in a real scenario (the Baluarte Congress Center and Auditorium of Navarre) located in the city of Pamplona. The results show that this kind of environment presents high wireless interference at different frequency bands, due to the existing wireless systems deployed within them, such as multiple WiFi access points, wireless microphones, or wireless communication systems used by the show staff. Therefore, radio channel simulations have been also performed with the aim of assessing the potential deployment of the proposed solution. The presented work can lead to the deployment of augmented reality systems within auditoriums and theaters, boosting the development of new applications.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-045Xunta de Galicia; , ED431G/01Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; RTI2018-095499-B-C3

IIoT low-cost ZigBee-based WSN implementation for enhanced production efficiency in a solar protection curtains manufacturing workshop

Nowadays, the Industry 4.0 concept and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are considered essential for the implementation of automated manufacturing processes across various industrial settings. In this regard, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are crucial due to their inherent mobility, easy deployment and maintenance, scalability, and low power consumption, among other benefits. In this context, the presented paper proposes an optimized and low-cost WSN based on ZigBee communication technology for the monitoring of a real manufacturing facility. The company designs and manufactures solar protection curtains and aims to integrate the deployed WSN into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in order to optimize their production processes and enhance production efficiency and cost estimation capabilities. To achieve this, radio propagation measurements and 3D ray launching simulations were conducted to characterize the wireless channel behavior and facilitate the development of an optimized WSN system that can operate in the complex industrial environment presented and validated through on-site wireless channel measurements, as well as interference analysis. Then, a low-cost WSN was implemented and deployed to acquire real-time data from different machinery and workstations, which will be integrated into the ERP system. Multiple data streams have been collected and processed from the shop floor of the factory by means of the prototype wireless nodes implemented. This integration will enable the company to optimize its production processes, fabricate products more efficiently, and enhance its cost estimation capabilities. Moreover, the proposed system provides a scalable platform, enabling the integration of new sensors as well as information processing capabilities.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-127409OB-C3