Name of the participant: David Nophut
Description of the IT research project: Wireless mesh networks are an upcoming technology for 5G applications, especially in the area of the Industrial Internet of Things. Specifically, production processes, for example, can be made more efficient by networking workpieces, machines and sensor technology so that the promises of Industry 4.0 – high efficiency through automation for small quantities – can be realized. Logistics is also an upcoming field of application. The development of OpenThread, among others by Google, and the specification of Bluetooth Mesh clearly show the increased interest in this technology.
These networks, also known as Wireless Sensor Networks, differ from other networks particularly considering that they are battery operated and have high energy efficiency requirements. However, while the protocols mentioned above promise energy-efficient communication in static networks, they are not designed for reliable communication – especially in dynamic applications where subscribers move around. In the REGROW project, a scientific study of the capabilities of these protocols, is being conducted to investigate their use for the Industrial Internet of Things. In contrast to other investigations, this is to be done with hardware and not only, as usual, simulatively.
Opportunistic Routing is an innovative method that optimally uses the randomness of the radio channel to forward messages. Packets that are received unexpectedly are thus perceived as an opportunity and not as a problem as before. In addition to the investigation of existing protocols, this concept will be adapted in REGROW to energy-constrained networks, implemented on hardware and compared with the state of the art.
Software Campus partners: TU Dresden, Trumpf
Implementation period: 01.05.2020 – 01.08.2021