Open Access
Implementation of radiating elements for radiofrequency front-ends by screen-printing techniques for Internet of Things applications
(MDPI, 2019) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; Klaina, Hicham; López Iturri, Peio; Sánchez, Aitor; Méndez Giménez, Leire; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 0011-1365-2017-000103
The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to embedding wireless transceivers into a wide range of devices, in order to implement context-aware scenarios, in which a massive amount of transceivers is foreseen. In this framework, cost-effective electronic and Radio Frequency (RF) front-end integration is desirable, in order to enable straightforward inclusion of communication capabilities within objects and devices in general. In this work, flexible antenna prototypes, based on screen-printing techniques, with conductive inks on flexible low-cost plastic substrates is proposed. Different parameters such as substrate/ink characteristics are considered, as well as variations in fabrication process or substrate angular deflection in device performance. Simulation and measurement results are presented, as well as system validation results in a real test environment in wireless sensor network communications. The results show the feasibility of using screen-printing antenna elements on flexible low-cost substrates, which can be embedded in a wide array of IoT scenarios.
Open Access
Wireless characterization and assessment of an UWB-Based system in industrial environments
(IEEE, 2021) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Klaina, Hicham; Glaría Ezker, Guillermo; Sáez de Jaúregui Urdanoz, Félix; Zabalza Cestau, José Luis; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
The advent of Indsutrial Internet of Things is one of the main drivers for the implementation of Industry 4.0 scenarios and applications, in which wireless communication systems play a key role in terms of flexibility, mobility and deployment capabilities. However, the integration of wireless communication systems poses challenges, owing to variable path loss conditions and interference impact. In this work, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) system for indoor location in very large, complex industrial scenarios is presented. Precise wireless channel characterization for the complete volume of a logistical plant is performed, based on 3D hybrid ray launching approximation, in order to aid network node design process. Wireless characterization, implementation and measurement results are obtained for both 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands, considering different densities of scatterers within the scenario under test. Time domain estimation results have been obtained and compared with time of flight measurement results, showing good agreement. The proposed methodology enables to perform system design and performance tasks, analyzing the impact of variable object density conditions in wireless channel response, providing accurate time of flight estimations without the need of complex channel sounder systems, aiding in optimal system planning and implementation.
Open Access
Implementation of an interactive environment with multilevel wireless links for distributed botanical garden in university campus
(IEEE, 2020) Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas
In this contribution, an end to end system to enable user interaction with a distributed botanical university campus garden is designed, implemented and tested. The proposed system employs different wireless links to collect data related to different bio physiological parameters of both the vegetation mass and the surrounding environment. Detailed analysis of these multilevel communication links is performed by using deterministic volumetric wireless channel estimation and considering underground, near ground and over ground radio propagation conditions. An in-house developed technique enables accurate wireless channel characterization for complete campus scenario considering the multiple link types and all its composing elements. Node definition and network topology is thus obtained by wireless channel analysis of over ground, near ground and underground communication for both 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks in an inhomogeneous vegetation environment. Connectivity to enable user interaction as well as for telemetry and tele-control purposes within the campus is achieved by combining ZigBee and LoRaWAN transceivers with the corresponding sensor/actuator platforms. Coverage studies have been performed in order to assess communication capabilities in the set of multiple underground/near ground/over ground links, by means of deterministic channel analysis for the complete university campus location. Measurement results in lab environment as well as full system deployment are presented, showing good agreement with deterministic simulations. Moreover, system level tests have been performed over a physical campus cloud, providing adequate quality of experience metrics. The proposed solution is a scalable system that provides real time trees status monitoring by a cloud-based platform, enabling user interaction within a distributed botanical garden environment in the university campus.
Open Access
An IoT framework for SDN based city mobility
(Springer, 2021) Al-Rahamneh, Anas; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Villadangos Alonso, Jesús; Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming more widespread, with global application in a wide range of commercial sectors, utilizing a variety of technologies for customized use in specific environments. The combinationof applications and protocolsand the unique requirements of each environment present a significant challenge for IoT applications, necessitating communication and message exchange support. This paper presents a proposed SDN-based edge smart bypass/ multiprotocol switching for bicycle networks that supports functionalities of coordination of various wireless transmission protocols. A performance assessment will be presented, addressing a comparison between the different protocols (LoRaWAN vs. Sigfox) in terms radio coverage.
Open Access
Analysis of low power wide area network wireless technologies in smart agriculture for large-scale farm monitoring and tractor communications
(Elsevier, 2022) Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Aghzout, Otman; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this paper, the assessment of multiple scenario cases for large-scale farm monitoring using Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) based near-ground sensor nodes with the interaction of both tractors and farmers are presented. The proposed scenario under analysis considers multiple communication links, namely nodes to infrastructure, nodes to tractor, nodes to farmer, tractor to infrastructure and farmer to infrastructure communications. Moreover, these scenarios are proposed for tractors and agricultural equipment performance improvement and tracking, as well as resources management within the farm field. Different link type configurations are tested in order to consider the impact of ground, spatial distribution as well as infrastructure elements. The results show that LPWAN-based WSNs can provide better performance in terms of coverage and radio link quality results than ZigBee for a non-flat large-scale farm field in both cases of near-ground fixed nodes and moving tractor and farmer. The proposed systems are validated by cloud-based platforms for LoRaWAN, Sigfox and NB-IoT communications, providing flexible and scalable solutions to enable interactive farming applications.
Open Access
Patient tracking in a multi-building, tunnel-connected hospital complex
(IEEE, 2020) Trigo Vilaseca, Jesús Daniel; Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Serrano Arriezu, Luis Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA29
Patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) are transported from and to other units. Knowing their location is strategic for a sound planning of intra-hospital transports as well as resources management. This is even more crucial in big hospital complexes, comprised of several buildings often connected through tunnels. In this work, a patient tracking application in a multi-building, tunnel-connected hospital complex (the Hospital Complex of Navarre) is presented. The system leverages Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) communication technologies, such as Long Range Wide-Area Network (LoRaWAN) and Near Field Communication (NFC). The locations of the LoRaWAN nodes were selected based on several factors, including the situation of the tunnels, buildings services and medical equipment and a literature review on intra-hospital ICU patients' trips. The possible locations of the LoRaWAN gateways were selected based on 3D Ray Launching Simulations, in order to obtain accurate characterization. Once the locations were set, a LoRaWAN radio coverage studio was performed. The main conclusion drawn is that just one LoRaWAN gateway would be enough to cover all overground LoRaWAN nodes deployed. A second one would be required for underground coverage. In addition, a remote, private cloud infrastructure together with a mobile application was created to manage the information generated. On-field tests were performed to assess the technical feasibility of the system. The application provides with on-demand ICU patients' movement flow around the complex. Although designed for the ICU-admitted patients' context, the system could be easily extrapolated to other use cases.
Open Access
A radio channel model for D2D communications blocked by single trees in forest environments
(MDPI, 2019) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; Klaina, Hicham; López Iturri, Peio; Aguirre Gallego, Erik; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Eguizábal Garrido, Alejandro; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Alejos, Ana V.; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this paper we consider the D2D (Device-to-Device) communication taking place between Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) elements operating in vegetation environments in order to achieve the radio channel characterization at 2.4 GHz, focusing on the radio links blocked by oak and pine trees modelled from specimens found in a real recreation area located within forest environments. In order to fit and validate a radio channel model for this type of scenarios, both measurements and simulations by means of an in-house developed 3D Ray Launching algorithm have been performed, offering as outcomes the path loss and multipath information of the scenarios under study for forest immersed isolated trees and non-isolated trees. The specific forests, composed of thick in-leaf trees, are called Orgi Forest and Chandebrito, located respectively in Navarre and Galicia, Spain. A geometrical and dielectric model of the trees were created and introduced in the simulation software. We concluded that the scattering produced by the tree can be divided into two zones with different dominant propagation mechanisms: an obstructed line of sight (OLoS) zone far from the tree fitting a log-distance model, and a diffraction zone around the edge of the tree. 2D planes of delay spread value are also presented which similarly reflects the proposed two-zone model.
Open Access
IIoT low-cost Zigbee-based WSN implementation for enhanced production efficiency in a solar protection curtains manufacturing workshop
(MDPI, 2024) Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Biurrun, Aitor; Alejos, Ana V.; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Nowadays, the Industry 4.0 concept and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are considered essential for the implementation of automated manufacturing processes across various industrial settings. In this regard, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are crucial due to their inherent mobility, easy deployment and maintenance, scalability, and low power consumption, among other benefits. In this context, the presented paper proposes an optimized and low-cost WSN based on ZigBee communication technology for the monitoring of a real manufacturing facility. The company designs and manufactures solar protection curtains and aims to integrate the deployed WSN into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in order to optimize their production processes and enhance production efficiency and cost estimation capabilities. To achieve this, radio propagation measurements and 3D ray launching simulations were conducted to characterize the wireless channel behavior and facilitate the development of an optimized WSN system that can operate in the complex industrial environment presented and validated through on-site wireless channel measurements, as well as interference analysis. Then, a low-cost WSN was implemented and deployed to acquire real-time data from different machinery and workstations, which will be integrated into the ERP system. Multiple data streams have been collected and processed from the shop floor of the factory by means of the prototype wireless nodes implemented. This integration will enable the company to optimize its production processes, fabricate products more efficiently, and enhance its cost estimation capabilities. Moreover, the proposed system provides a scalable platform, enabling the integration of new sensors as well as information processing capabilities.
Open Access
Enabling customizable services for multimodal smart mobility with city-platforms
(IEEE, 2021) Al-Rahamneh, Anas; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Villadangos Alonso, Jesús; Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
In the last decades, the cities' capacity for generating digital information has grown exponentially. In this context, the successful implementation of smart cities' concept depends on the current possibility of handling the significant volumes of sensed data. This is particularly notorious in the case of urban mobility. Researchers in the field of urban planning have shown a great interest in urban mobility problems, proposing different route recommendation services towards making it easier and safer to move around the city. This paper addresses the development of an urban data platform and how to obtain and integrate information from sensors and other data sources to provide aggregated and intelligent views of raw data to support urban mobility. With the aim of evaluating the efficiency of the developed platform, we present an intelligent urban mobility solution, where the context-awareness, user preferences, and environmental factors play a significant role in the process of route planning. Finally, our work provides an experiment to assess different long-range wireless communication technologies to enable its implementation within an urban environment.
Open Access
Design, assessment and deployment of an efficient golf game dynamics management system based on flexible wireless technologies
(MDPI, 2023) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; Aguirre Gallego, Erik; López Iturri, Peio; Guembe Zabaleta, Javier; Olariaga Jauregui, Eduardo; Klaina, Hicham; Marcotegui Iturmendi, José Antonio; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
The practice of sports has been steadily evolving, taking advantage of different technological tools to improve different aspects such as individual/collective training, support in match development or enhancement of audience experience. In this work, an in-house implemented monitoring system for golf training and competition is developed, composed of a set of distributed end devices, gateways and routers, connected to a web-based platform for data analysis, extraction and visualization. Extensive wireless channel analysis has been performed, by means of deterministic 3D radio channel estimations and radio frequency measurements, to provide coverage/capacity estimations for the specific use case of golf courses. The monitoring system has been fully designed considering communication as well as energy constraints, including wireless power transfer (WPT) capabilities in order to provide flexible node deployment. System validation has been performed in a real golf course, validating end-to-end connectivity and information handling to improve overall user experience.