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Published on: August 27, 2021
LoRaWAN Battery-Free Wireless Sensors Network Designed for Structural Health Monitoring in the Construction Domain
Gaël Loubet1, Alexandru Takacs2, Ethan Gardner3
1LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INSA, UPS, 31400 Toulouse, France. gael.loubet@laas.fr.
This study presents a battery-free wireless sensor network for structural health monitoring. The network uses radio frequency power to control measurement and data transmission periodicity without hardware or software changes.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Physics
Background:
- Structural health monitoring (SHM) is crucial in the construction domain for ensuring safety and longevity.
- Existing wireless sensor networks (WSNs) often face challenges with power supply and maintenance, limiting their practical implementation.
- Cyber-physical systems (CPS) require robust and reliable data acquisition from physical structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the practical implementation of a wireless sensor network for structural health monitoring.
- To introduce a novel approach for powering and controlling battery-free wireless sensing nodes.
- To validate the proposed system's capability for long-range data transmission and remote control.
Main Methods:
- Development of a mesh grid network using LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) battery-free wireless sensing nodes.
- Implementation of far-field wireless power transmission using a dedicated RF energy source at 868 MHz.
- Simultaneous measurement of temperature and relative humidity by the sensing nodes.
- Utilizing LoRa technology for long-range wireless data transmission.
Main Results:
- Two prototypes of battery-free sensing nodes were successfully manufactured and tested.
- Wireless power transmission enabled continuous operation of the sensing nodes.
- The periodicity of measurements and data transmission was effectively controlled by adjusting the RF source's radiated power density.
- No modifications to the sensing nodes' hardware or software were required for control.
Conclusions:
- The proposed wireless sensor network offers a practical and efficient solution for structural health monitoring in construction.
- Far-field wireless power transmission provides a viable alternative to traditional battery power for WSNs.
- Remote control of sensing node operation via RF power density tuning enhances system flexibility and reduces maintenance needs.
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