Search Results (7)

The widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven major advancements in wireless communication, especially in rural and suburban areas where low population density and limited infrastructure pose significant challenges. Accurate Path Loss (PL) prediction is critical for the effective deployment and operation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in such environments. This study explores the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for PL modeling, utilizing a comprehensive dataset collected in a smart campus setting that captures the influence of terrain and environmental variations. Several CNN architectures were evaluated based on different combinations of input features—such as distance, elevation, clutter height, and altitude—to assess their predictive accuracy. The findings reveal that CNN-based models outperform traditional propagation models (Free Space Path Loss (FSPL), Okumura–Hata, COST 231, Log-Distance), achieving lower error rates and more precise PL estimations. The best performing CNN configuration, using only distance and elevation, highlights the value of terrain-aware modeling. These results underscore the potential of deep learning techniques to enhance IoT connectivity in sparsely connected regions and support the development of more resilient communication infrastructures. Full article

THz communication stands as a pivotal technology for 6G networks, designed to address the critical challenge of data demands surpassing current microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) capabilities. However, realizing Tbps and kilometer-range transmission confronts the “dual attenuation dilemma” comprising severe free-space path loss (FSPL) (>120 dB/km) and atmospheric absorption. This review comprehensively summarizes our group′s advancements in overcoming fundamental challenges of long-distance THz communication. Through systematic photonic–electronic co-optimization, we report key enabling technologies including photonically assisted THz signal generation, polarization-multiplexed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with maximal ratio combining (MRC), high-gain antenna–lens configurations, and InP amplifier systems for complex weather resilience. Critical experimental milestones encompass record-breaking 1.0488 Tbps throughput using probabilistically shaped 64QAM (PS-64QAM) in the 330–500 GHz band; 30.2 km D-band transmission (18 Gbps with 543.6 Gbps·km capacity–distance product); a 3 km fog-penetrating link at 312 GHz; and high-sensitivity SIMO-validated 100 Gbps satellite-terrestrial communication beyond 36,000 km. These findings demonstrate THz communication′s viability for 6G networks requiring extreme-capacity backhaul and ultra-long-haul connectivity. Full article

The convergence of 5G terrestrial networks with satellite systems offers a revolutionary approach to achieving global, seamless connectivity, particularly for Internet of Things (IoT) applications in urban and rural settings. This paper investigates the implications of this 5G–satellite integrated network architecture, specifically through the application of the two-ray propagation model and the free-space path loss (FSPL) model. By simulating signal characteristics over varying distances, altitudes, and environmental parameters, we explore how factors such as transmitter height, satellite altitude, and frequency impact received power, path loss, channel capacity, and outage probability. The key findings indicate that received power decreases significantly with increasing distance, with notable oscillations in the two-ray model due to interference from ground reflections, particularly evident within the first 100 km. For example, at 50 km, a 300 km satellite altitude yields approximately −115 dBm in received power, while at 1000 km altitude, this power drops to around −136 dBm. Higher frequencies (e.g., 32 GHz) exhibit greater path loss than lower frequencies (e.g., 24 GHz), with a 5 dB difference observed at 1000 km, reinforcing the need for frequency considerations in long-range communication design. In terms of channel capacity, increasing bandwidth enhances achievable data rates but declines with distance due to diminishing received power. At 100 km, a 50 MHz bandwidth supports up to 4500 Mbps, while at 3000 km, capacity drops to around 300 Mbps. The outage probability analysis shows that higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) thresholds substantially increase the likelihood of communication failures, especially at distances exceeding 2000 km. For instance, at 3000 km, the outage probability for a 15 dB SNR threshold reaches approximately 25%, compared to less than 5% for a 5 dB threshold. These results underscore the critical trade-offs in designing 5G–satellite IoT networks, balancing bandwidth, frequency, SNR thresholds, and satellite altitudes for optimal performance across diverse IoT applications. The analysis provides valuable insights for enhancing connectivity and reliability in 5G–satellite integrated networks, especially in remote and underserved regions. Full article

The outdoor terrestrial terahertz (THz) communication links have recently attracted great research and commercial interest in response to the emerging bandwidth-hungry demands for extremely high-speed wireless data transmissions. However, their development is hindered by the random behavior of the atmospheric channel due to the molecular attenuation, adverse weather effects, and atmospheric turbulence (along with free space path loss (FSPL) and pointing errors) due to the stochastic misalignments between the transmitter and the receiver. Thus, in this work, we investigate the joint influence of these detrimental effects on both capacities, i.e., average (ergodic) and outage, of such a typical line of sight (LOS) THz communication link. Specifically, atmospheric turbulence-induced intensity fluctuations can be modeled by using either the suitable gamma or the well-known gamma–gamma distribution for weak and moderate to strong turbulence conditions, respectively. Additionally, weak to strong stochastic misalignment-induced intensity fluctuations, due to generalized pointing errors with non-zero boresight (NZB), are emulated by the appropriate Beckman distribution. Taking into additional consideration the unavoidable presence of FSPL and the different but realistic water vapor concentration values along with the influence of weather conditions, an outage performance analysis has been conducted. Considering the abovementioned significant effects, novel analytical mathematical expressions have been extracted for both average (ergodic) and outage capacity, which are critical metrics that first incorporate the total influence of all of the above significant effects on the THz links’ performance. Through the derived expressions, proper analytical results verified by simulations are presented and demonstrate the validity of our analysis. It is notable that the derived expressions can accommodate realistic parameter values involved in all the above-mentioned major effects and link characteristics. In this context, they provide encouraging quantitative results and outcomes for both capacity metrics under investigation. The latter enables the design and the establishment of modern and future high-speed THz links, which are expected to cover longer propagation distances and thus become even more vulnerable to atmospheric turbulence effect. This is modeled and incorporated in our analysis and expressions contrary to most of the previous works in the open technical literature. Full article

In recent years, the THz frequency band (0.3 THz–10 THz) has attracted an increasing research interest for the realization of emerging high-speed wireless communication links. Nevertheless, the propagation of THz signals through the atmospheric channel is primarily subjected to signal attenuation due to free space path loss (FSPL), water vapor, adverse weather conditions along with atmospheric turbulence-induced and misalignment-induced scintillations. Therefore, in this work, a multi-hop line-of-sight THz system that utilizes serially connected decode-and-forward relays is proposed to extend the total THz coverage distance under the presence of fog, rain or clear weather conditions, as well as water vapor, atmospheric turbulence, non-zero boresight pointing errors and FSPL. Under these circumstances, an average bit error rate (ABER) analysis is performed. In this context, novel closed-form ABER expressions are derived. Their analytical results demonstrate the influence of each of the above limiting factors as well as their joint impact on the ABER performance. Finally, the feasibility of extending the total THz link distance through multi-hop relaying configurations is also evaluated. Full article

A wireless Underground Sensor Network (WUSN) is a group of sensors that collectively communicate through the underground medium. Radio Frequency (RF) signal transmission of the sensors through the ground is the most challenging aspects of a WUSN due to the high attenuation of the electromagnetic (EM) signal in the soil. Signals are often required to travel through soils with a high density or water content and generally through a non-isotropic and non-homogenous soil mixture with different boundaries, both of which can attenuate the signal sharply. The variability of the these conditions and complexity of the behaviour of signal attenuation with respect to these parameters makes accurate estimation of EM signal attenuation in soil challenging. Two main EM signal attenuation models exist to estimate attenuation (modified-Friis and Complex Refractive Index Model-Fresnel (CRIM-Fresnel). These were reviewed and a methodology was developed in order to measure the attenuation of the EM signals in the laboratory. Results from the laboratory measurements were compared with the estimation values calculated from the attenuation models. These comparisons showed a large difference between the estimated values by the models. In addition, analysis of the comparison tests showed that the CRIM-Fresnel model provides a better estimation of attenuation in samples with lower permittivity values while the modified-Friis model had a higher accuracy in samples with higher clay/water content which have higher permittivity values. Full article

The production of tomatoes in greenhouses, in addition to its relevance in nutrition and health, is an activity of the agroindustry with high economic importance in Spain, the first exporter in Europe of this vegetable. The technological updating with precision agriculture, implemented in order to ensure adequate production, leads to a deployment planning of wireless sensors with limited coverage by the attenuation of radio waves in the presence of vegetation. The well-known propagation models FSPL (Free-Space Path Loss), two-ray, COST235, Weissberger, ITU-R (International Telecommunications Union—Radiocommunication Sector), FITU-R (Fitted ITU-R), offer values with an error percentage higher than 30% in the 2.4 GHz band in relation to those measured in field tests. As a substantial improvement, we have developed optimized propagation models, with an error estimate of less than 9% in the worst-case scenario for the later benefit of farmers, consumers and the economic chain in the production of tomatoes. Full article