Radio Channel Modeling in a Ship Hull: Path Loss at 868 MHz and 2.4, 5.25, and 60 GHz

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis of a channel sounding campaign in the hull of a bulk carrier vessel at sub-6 GHz frequencies 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.25 GHz as well as mmWave frequency 60.48 GHz. For the sub-6 GHz frequencies, path loss (PL) is measured using omnidirectional antennas. The measured PL is fitted to a one-slope PL model that takes into account attenuation due to engine room floor crossings, obstructions and walls. The fitted model has a reference PL lower than free space and a PL exponent around 1.2. For mmWave wireless communication high gain directive antennas are typically used. Therefore, the directive radio channel for Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication is measured using the Terragraph channel sounder and an antenna beam width dependent PL model is created. At mmWave frequencies, LOS PL in the vessel is close to PL in a free space environment, but angular spread values are lower compared to other indoor scenarios.

Next Generation Auto-Identification and Traceability Technologies for Industry 5.0: A Methodology and Practical Use Case for the Shipbuilding Industry

“…In fact, technologies that work in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, like BLE, Wi-Fi, ZigBee and WirelessHART, must be carefully considered, since electromagnetic interference from other wireless systems that operate on the same frequency band can occur, which derives into having worse propagation characteristics in industrial scenarios than when lower frequencies are used [155]- [158].…”

Maritime Communications: A Survey on Enabling Technologies, Opportunities, and Challenges

“…Due to the dense multipath environment formed by the metallic structures inside the channel, broadband propagation may be impossible. Furthermore, [29] tested the channel in three separate places within the ship in a broader comprehensive investigation conducted in larger bands (868 MHz, 2.5, 5.25, and 60 GHz). The path loss exponents for sub-6GHz were 1.21, 1.14, and 1.36 for 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.25 GHz, respectively.…”

Directive mmWave radio channel modeling in a ship hull

“…In previous work, we presented path loss models at sub-6 GHz frequencies 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.25 GHz [34], and a Line-of-Sight (LOS) path model at 60 GHz [34,40]. The 60 GHz LOS path loss model from [40] is extended with a beamwidth-dependent PL model in [34].…”

“…In previous work, we presented path loss models at sub-6 GHz frequencies 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.25 GHz [34], and a Line-of-Sight (LOS) path model at 60 GHz [34,40]. The 60 GHz LOS path loss model from [40] is extended with a beamwidth-dependent PL model in [34]. The novelty of this paper is the analysis of the non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) channel model, investigation of delay spreads, and the channel model implementation in a ray launching network planning tool.…”

“…Most research on maritime wireless communication addresses off-ship communication [26–31]. Sub-6 GHz radio channel measurements on board of a vessel were carried out in [32–34], reporting a path loss exponent value of <2 for propagation within a metal compartment, which is in line with several other industrial environments [14]. Higher layer experiments of IEEE 802.15.4 based sensor networks on board of a vessel show a very good network reliability [35].…”