Spectral Spreading Control Approach Applied to a LoRaWAN Network Implementation for Mobile Robotic Communication R2X

Abstract

LoRa networks have emerged as a robust solution offering greater range than other Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for sensing in urban and rural environments. The flexibility of this wireless protocol expands its applicability to mobile devices, enhancing its use in dynamic contexts such as industrial robotic systems and autonomous vehicles. This paper proposes an algorithm we call Forced Data Rate, which consists of an adaptation of the algorithm known in the literature as Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) to control the spectral spreading of LoRa technology. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm as well as the ADR, a LoRaWAN communication system for autonomous robotic devices is implemented using embedded devices, such as the RA08-H in conjunction with RP2040 microcontrollers and an SX1302-based gateway, to create a dynamic sensing scenario that fits the concept of Robot to Everything (R2X). The results obtained indicate that the ADR algorithm did not provide efficient control, in the considered scenario, of spectral spreading with moving devices. On the other hand, using the proposed Forced Data Rate algorithm, it was possible to ensure that the mobile robot navigated through the test circuit considered without interruption of the robot’s transmission with temperature and humidity data.