A Novel and Adaptive Angle Diversity-Based Receiver for 6G Underground Mining VLC Systems

Area of Science:

• Optical Wireless Communications
• Wireless Networking
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Visible Light Communication (VLC) is crucial for future 6G wireless systems.
• Underground Mining (UM) environments pose significant challenges for optical links.
• Existing VLC systems struggle with performance degradation in harsh conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a novel Angle Diversity Receiver (ADR) for Underground Mining Visible Light Communication (UM-VLC) systems.
• To enhance the reliability and performance of VLC in challenging underground environments.
• To mitigate signal degradation issues inherent in UM-VLC.

Main Methods:

• A hemidodecahedral Angle Diversity Receiver (ADR) with adaptive Photo-Diode (PD) orientation was designed.
• The adaptive orientation was based on the Received Signal Strength Ratio (RSSR) scheme.
• Performance was evaluated in a simulated UM-VLC scenario using metrics like received power, data rate, and Bit Error Rate (BER).

Main Results:

• The proposed adaptive ADR achieved at least a 60% improvement in key performance metrics compared to state-of-the-art fixed PD ADRs and Time of Arrival (ToA) methods.
• The hemidodecahedral ADR with adaptive PDs demonstrated enhanced received optical signal strength.
• Optimum adaptive angular positioning based on signal power significantly boosted UM-VLC system performance.

Conclusions:

• The novel hemidodecahedral ADR with adaptive PDs effectively enhances received optical signals in UM-VLC systems.
• This adaptive scheme offers a significant performance improvement for UM-VLC, addressing environmental challenges.
• The proposed solution supports the viability of VLC as an enabling technology for future 6G deployments in demanding environments.