Transmit Data

Purpose

A robot like ours, which will be crossing multiple terrains, and collecting data at a distance from our team, would not only need a way to collect and store information, but then send it back to us as well. 

Design Ideas

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances using UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz, and building personal area networks (PANs).

Advantages

  • High energy efficiency
 Disadvantages

  • Low speed compared to Wi-Fi
  • Short-range (40-400 m)
  • Receiving device compatibility

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is the wireless technology used to connect computers, tablets, smartphones, and other devices to the internet. Wi-Fi is the radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into data you can see and use. If this communication method is used, the robot must be configured such that it could connect to the closest “tower” or other network devices.

Downloading data from onboard computer storage

SD Cards are memory storing chips held inside of the device recording data. Pictures, videos, and other data files can be held here until they are dumped somewhere else. Our robot would benefit from this by being able to download information from someone in need of help, or store reconnaissance information of the environment. Once the robot comes back we can remove the SD and download all of the information that has been collected.

Metrics

  • Signal Strength as RSSI (Received SIgnal Strength Indicator)
  • Radio Frequency
  • Capacity of on-board storage

Constraints

  • Effective communication range
  • Cost
  • Accessibility of on-board storage

Next Steps

  • Understanding of what it will take for the robot to be able to transmit data on land or submerged in water to choose the most applicable transmission for each scenario.
  • Propeller knowledge, and understanding of the necessary components of what each transmission type has to offer.
  • Determine distances and what effective communication range we will need

Citations

  1. Fadelli, I. (2021, January 19). WSR: A new Wi-Fi-based system for Collaborative Robotics. Tech Xplore – Technology and Engineering news. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-wsr-wi-fi-based-collaborative-robotics.html.
  2. Skawinski, M., & Netguru. (2021, August 30). Bluetooth vs WIFI comparison for the IOT Solutions. Custom Software Development. Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.netguru.com/blog/bluetooth-vs-wifi-comparison-for-the-iot-solutions.