Scientific poster example

1
Improved RF Signal Propagation Through Water via
Waveforms
Ritesh J. Patel Electrical
Engineering Justin Jantzen Aerospace
Engineering Dr. Dharma Agrawal REU
Mentor Distinguished Professor Anagha
Jamthe Graduate Student Mentor
Background
Test Methods
Outcome

• Radio Frequency signals are commonly used in
  communications, from radio and cellphones to
  Wi-Fi
• RF signals lose strength quickly in water due to
  absorption/attenuation properties
• Wireless devices communicating with RF signals
  could be used in off-shore oil-drilling
  platforms, submarines, and marine life
  applications

• Transmit signal through pipe (copper PVC) and
  two plastic bags in air
• Transmit signal through pipe (copper PVC) and
  two plastic bags by placing pipe and plastic bags
  in water
• Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and
  two plastic bags in air
• Compare the RSSI percentage of copper, PVC and
  two plastic bags in water
• Use different diameter (1.5 inch, 2 inch, 3
  inch) of pipes to see diameters effect on RSSI
  percentage

Test Result Comparisons in Air
Average RSSI, in Percentage of Maximum RSSI,
where s is Standard Deviation
Experiment Purpose

• Improvement in Radio Frequency signal propagation
  between a wireless transmitter/receiver pair
  through a pipe filled with air vs. RF signal
  propagation through water
• A hollow pipe can be used to propagate signal
  through air rather than water and could
  significantly improve the signal quality and
  transmission range

Average RSSI Lost, compared to Maximum RSSI
Test Result Comparisons in Water
Conclusion

• Signals subject to large attenuation through
  water without waveform
• Waveform reduces signal somewhat in air
• In water, PVC waveform reduces signal loss by up
  to 10
• Submerged copper pipe subjects signal to complete
  loss at 1m
• Larger pipe diameters have a small, but negative,
  effect on signal strength

Materials

• Copper PVC pipes of varying diameters cut into
  1m segments
• Trash can filled with water
• RF Sensors operating at 2.4 GHz