Wireless sensors are the key technology platform to enable us to collect data that will be used for all kinds of fascinating applications like, in our project, asset tracking in fully automated factories, condition monitoring of heavy machinery in critical applications, and energy efficiency and human wellbeing in smart buildings. Wireless sensor networks are evolving very quickly, adding sophisticated edge computing to solve an increasingly complex set of problems, at lower latency while improving battery life of the sensors.

This evolution, however, is oftentimes hindered by electromagnetic compatibility issues which may arise. Interference and coexistence issues, in an increasingly crowded spectrum, set a captivating challenge which calls for an urgent set of solutions which can help us create more reliable, efficient, robust, smart, and secure wireless sensor networks.

Within the European project LoLiPoP IoT, https://horizon-de-lolipop.eu/, a consortium of more than 40 European partners including Universities, research institutes small, medium, and large enterprises, from 11 countries, are working together to bring disruptive benefits for industry and society (reduced carbons emission, increased renewable integration, making the world a safer and better-connected place)

Job Description

It has been estimated   that the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) related costs can amount to 1-5% of the sales price of a product and it can even reach to 10% of total development costs if EMC is not properly considered from the design phase. 

Currently, reliability measurements in wireless sensor networks (WSN) are performed with either a conducted link simulating the different electromagnetic environments, testing for coexistence and interference, or via over-the-air (OTA) tests in anechoic rooms. These two platforms fail to offer a right representation of the realistic environment where the WSNs and its components are deployed: a warehouse, the fuselage of an airplane, a modern office, etc.

In this project you will develop a new measurement paradigm where the rapid-changing reverberant field is considered as the reference for evaluating WSNs using novel sensors, test methodologies, and processing.  You will study new OTA validation and measurement testing platforms and methodologies for WSNs to determine communication/sensing performance metrics (e.g. energy-efficiency, robustness, reliability, latency, etc) in a broad frequency range in a reliable way and within a reasonable timeframe, e.g. within minutes-a few hours.

Besides research you will also contribute to education within the department. Apart from supervising BSc and MSc students in their research projects, other assistance in education, e.g. in bachelor courses, is usually limited to around 5% of your contract time.

The position is supervised by Dr. Ramiro Serra.