The design of a low cost ad-hoc network for short distance data acquisition

[摘要] In this thesis the design of a low-cost ad hoc network for short distance data acquisition applicationswith low data arrival intervals will be presented. The focus is on cost reduction byreplacing the traditional high power radios with low-power RF transceivers. The conventionalway of using multiple stationary repeater towers (depending on the network) is also replaced byusing an ad hoc con guration, where each individual station also serves as a repeater station toadjacent stations. This approach reduces network design time enormously, seeing that the networkis able to con gure itself. By using this auto-routing multi-hop approach, data acquisitionpoints are no longer restricted to the reception areas of base stations.A CSMA contention protocol is used for the data communication. Current models used to modelthis protocol are dependent on various assumptions. In the research reported in this thesis, astatistical study of the collision probability is performed and the results used to expand thecurrent CSMA models. Inter-dependent characteristics of this model are also further enhancedto provide a more realistic model. A simulink model of the particular CSMA protocol is alsodesigned. Both the mathematical- and the simulink models provide relatively good predictionswhen compared to actual measured results

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University