Optical wireless systems with MIMO architecture in an industrial environment (OWIND)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ronald Freund
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 418775794

A wide range of applications is envisioned for industrial manufacturing, involving artificial intelligence, augmented reality, as well as flexible production adjustments for individual products. Accordingly, future manufacturing will necessitate wireless links with high data rates, low latency and reliable connectivity. Optical wireless communication (OWC, also known as Li-fi) is a wireless communication technology using the unlicensed light spectrum. LED luminaires have enough modulation bandwidth for high data rates and each luminaire can be used as a wireless access point. Networked OWC-enhanced luminaires will add new features to build a wireless network for the industrial production.The proposed project will measure and model the multilink optical wireless channel, develop a signal model comprising also optical transmitters with intensity modulation, photo-receivers with direct detection and include network aspects such as modulation formats or soft handover. The capacity limits for multilink optical wireless channels will be explored. Coordination of the optical wireless network with mutually overlapping small cells will be studied for the support of mobile users at high data rates.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Brazil
• Partner Organisation: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; (CAPES); Setor bancario Norte
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Volker Jungnickel
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Jair Adriano Lima Silva; Professor Dr. Helder Roberto De Oliveira Rocha; Professorin Dr. Maria Jose Pontes; Professor Dr. Marcelo Eduardo Vieira Segatto