Project #1 Improved RF Signal Propagation through Water via Waveforms Student:Ritesh J. PatelElectrical and Compute Engineering ACCEND Justin Jantzen Aerospace Engineering Mentor: Dr. Dharma Agrawal, D.Sc. Distinguished Professor Anagha Jamthe Graduate Student Mentor NSF Type 1 STEP Grant Sponsored By The National Science Foundation Grant ID No.: DUE College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Cincinnati

Index Experiment Purpose Background Materials Test Method Test Results Conclusion

Experiment Purpose Improvement in RF (Radio Frequency) signal propagation between a wireless transmitter/receiver pair through a pipe filled with air vs. RF signal propagation through water A hollow pipe can be used to propagate signal through air rather than water and could significantly improve the signal quality and transmission range 3

Background RF waves are used by cell phones to communicate with a microwave tower Such signals attenuates quickly in water due to absorption/attenuation properties Such wireless devices communicating with RF signals could be used in off-shore oil-drilling platforms, submarines, and marine life applications A hollow pipe can be used to propagate signal through air rather than water and could significantly improve the signal quality and transmission range # 4

Background 3 Major Methods of Transmission  Radio Frequency  Acoustic  Optical 5

Background From “Re-Evaluation of RF Electromagnetic Communication in Underwater Sensor Networks”

Materials Copper & PVC pipes of varying diameters cut into 1m segments 1 m PVC pipe with diameter: 1.5 inch, 2 inch and 3 inch Trash-can filled with water RF Sensors operating at 2.4 GHz Texas Instrument eZ430-RF2500-SHE

Test Method Transmit signal through pipe (copper & PVC) and two plastic bags in air Transmit signal through pipe (copper & PVC) and two plastic bags by placing pipe and plastic bags in water Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and two plastic bags in air Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and two plastic bags in water Use different diameter (1.5 inch, 2 inch, & 3 inch) of pipes to see diameter’s effect on RSSI percentage

Air Water Test Method Receiver Station Transmitter Station Receiver Station Transmitter

Test Results Stacked Histogram of RSSI Percentages of the 3 Methods When Not Submerged in Water

Test Results 3-D Histogram of RSSI Percentages of the 3 Methods When Not Submerged in Water

Test Results Figure 3: Stacked Histogram of RSSI Percentages of the 3 Methods When Submerged in Water

Test Results 3-D Histogram of RSSI Percentages of the 3 Methods When Submerged in Water

Test Results: Summary Average Percent Signal Received Plastic Bags1.5" Copper Pipe1.5" PVC Pipe2" PVC Pipe3" PVC Pipe Not Submerged Not Submerged σ Submerged Submerged σ Average Percent Signal Lost Plastic Bags1.5" Copper Pipe1.5" PVC Pipe2" PVC Pipe3" PVC Pipe Not Submerged Submerged Average RSSI, in Percentage of Maximum RSSI, where σ is Standard Deviation Average RSSI Lost, compared to Maximum RSSI

Conclusion Signals subject to large attenuation through water without waveform Waveform reduces signal somewhat in air In water, PVC waveform reduces signal loss by up to 10% Submerged copper pipe subjects signal to complete loss at 1m Larger pipe diameters have a small, but negative, effect on signal strength

Questions?Questions? Background Conclusion Test Result Comparisons in Air Radio Frequency signals are commonly used in communications, from radio and cellphones to Wi-Fi RF signals lose strength quickly in water due to absorption/attenuation properties Wireless devices communicating with RF signals could be used in off-shore oil- drilling platforms, submarines, and marine life applications Experiment Purpose Test Result Comparisons in Water Test Methods Materials Outcome Improvement in Radio Frequency signal propagation between a wireless transmitter/receiver pair through a pipe filled with air vs. RF signal propagation through water A hollow pipe can be used to propagate signal through air rather than water and could significantly improve the signal quality and transmission range Copper & PVC pipes of varying diameters cut into 1m segments Trash can filled with water RF Sensors operating at 2.4 GHz Transmit signal through pipe (copper & PVC) and two plastic bags in air Transmit signal through pipe (copper & PVC) and two plastic bags by placing pipe and plastic bags in water Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and two plastic bags in air Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and two plastic bags in water Use different diameter (1.5 inch, 2 inch, & 3 inch) of pipes to see diameter’s effect on RSSI percentage Average RSSI, in Percentage of Maximum RSSI, where σ is Standard Deviation Average RSSI Lost, compared to Maximum RSSI Signals subject to large attenuation through water without waveform Waveform reduces signal somewhat in air In water, PVC waveform reduces signal loss by up to 10% Submerged copper pipe subjects signal to complete loss at 1m Larger pipe diameters have a small, but negative, effect on signal strength