No abstract

With the increasing realization of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and rapid proliferation of wireless sensor networks (WSN), estimating the location of wireless sensor nodes is emerging as an important issue. Traditional ranging based localization algorithms use triangulation for estimating the physical location of only those wireless nodes that are within one-hop distance from the anchor nodes. Multi-hop localization algorithms, on the other hand, aim at localizing the wireless nodes that can physically be residing at multiple hops away from anchor nodes. These latter algorithms have attracted a growing interest from research community due to the smaller number of required anchor nodes. One such algorithm, known as DV-Hop (Distance Vector Hop), has gained popularity due to its simplicity and lower cost. However, DV-Hop suffers from reduced accuracy due to the fact that it exploits only the network topology (i.e., number of hops to anchors) rather than the distances between pairs of nodes. In this paper, we propose an enhanced DV-Hop localization algorithm that also uses the RSSI values associated with links between one-hop neighbors. Moreover, we exploit already localized nodes by promoting them to become additional anchor nodes. Our simulations have shown that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the original DV-Hop localization algorithm and two of its recently published variants, namely RSSI Auxiliary Ranging and the Selective 3-Anchor DV-hop algorithm. More precisely, in some scenarios, the proposed algorithm improves the localization accuracy by almost 95%, 90% and 70% as compared to the basic DV-Hop, Selective 3-Anchor, and RSSI DV-Hop algorithms, respectively.

The rapid proliferation of wireless sensor networks over the past few years has posed some serious technical challenges to researchers. The primary function of a multi-hop wireless sensor network (WSN) is to collect and forward sensor data towards the destination node. However, for many applications, the knowledge of the location of sensor nodes is crucial for meaningful interpretation of the sensor data. Localization refers to the process of estimating the location of sensor nodes in a WSN. Self-localization is required in large wireless sensor networks where these nodes cannot be manually positioned. Traditional methods iteratively localize these nodes by using triangulation. However, the inherent instability in wireless signals introduces an error, however minute it might be, in the estimated position of the target node. This results in the embedded error propagating and magnifying rapidly. Machine learning based localizing algorithms for large wireless sensor networks do not function in an iterative manner. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of some of these algorithms while exploring different trade-offs. Specifically, we first formulate a novel way of defining multiple feature vectors for mapping the localizing problem onto different machine learning models. As opposed to treating the localization as a classification problem, as done in the most of the reported work, we treat it as a regression problem. We have studied the impact of varying network parameters, such as network size, anchor population, transmitted signal power, and wireless channel quality, on the localizing accuracy of these models. We have also studied the impact of deploying the anchor nodes in a grid rather than placing these nodes randomly in the deployment area. Our results have revealed interesting insights while using the multivariate regression model and support vector machine (SVM) regression model with radial basis function (RBF) kernel.

In this paper, a joint spatio–radio frequency resource allocation and hybrid beamforming scheme for the massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems is proposed. We consider limited feedback two-stage hybrid beamformimg for decomposing the precoding matrix at the base-station. To reduce the channel state information (CSI) feedback of massive MIMO, we utilize the channel covariance-based RF precoding and beam selection. This beam selection process minimizes the inter-group interference. The regularized block diagonalization can mitigate the inter-group interference, but requires substantial overhead feedback. We use channel covariance-based eigenmodes and discrete Fourier transforms (DFT) to reduce the feedback overhead and design a simplified analog precoder. The columns of the analog beamforming matrix are selected based on the users’ grouping performed by the K-mean unsupervised machine learning algorithm. The digital precoder is designed with joint optimization of intra-group user utility function. It has been shown that more than 50 % feedback overhead is reduced by the eigenmodes-based analog precoder design. The joint beams, users scheduling and limited feedbacK-based hybrid precoding increases the sum-rate by 27 . 6 % compared to the sum-rate of one-group case, and reduce the feedback overhead by 62 . 5 % compared to the full CSI feedback.

Novel structural supercapacitors, containing graphene nanoplatelets incorporated carbon fiber mats as electrodes, crosslinked diglycidylether of bisphenol-A epoxy polymer electrolyte and filter paper separator, have been manufactured for the first time by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. These supercapacitors can bear structural loads and store electrochemical energy at the same time. Loading of high surface area graphene nanoplatelets on carbon fiber mats is an effective process to improve the charge storage capacity of the electrodes. Electrochemical and structural properties of the structural supercapacitors are explored through in-plane shear testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, chronoamperometry and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. As graphene nanoplatelet loadings on carbon fiber mat electrodes increase from 0 to 10 wt.%, the structural supercapacitors exhibit significant improvements in specific capacitance (8.9–118.7 mF·cm−3), energy density (19.7–263.8 Wh·m−3) and normalized in-plane shear modulus (1.7–3.1 GPa). Thus, this study has revealed that using the graphene nanoplatelet loaded carbon fiber mats as structural supercapacitor electrodes is a relatively novel and easy approach to enhance the multifunctionality of structural supercapacitors.