Software-defined wireless communications and positioning device for IoT development

Abstract

The rapid progress in electronics, sensing, actuation, signal processing, and communication networking has spurred emergence of new technologies like Internet of Things (IoT). In this paper, we report our work on a multi-function IoT (MioT) platform. The MioT supports multiple wireless waveforms that can be used for long as well as short range and beyond-line-of-sight environments and an IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wide band (UWB) waveform for accurate and precise RF-positioning system in harsh wireless environments, e.g., indoor and industrial environments. With the MioT a library of software APIs are provided to configure different parameters of the device through the USB interface. Besides, USB can also be used to transfer data from host to the MioT and vice-versa. Using the MioT we develop a flexible implementation of the DMR access technology. This implementation is used to provide a robust long-range link for robotic command and control and for cognitive management of WiFi mesh-networks in a project for robotic-assisted search and rescue operations in disaster areas. We also report our preliminary results on RF-ranging based on the UWB waveform.