Theoretical models for underwater RFID and the impact of water salinity on the design of wireless systems

Peres, Caroline; Pigeon, Melusine; Rather, Nadeem; Gawade, Dinesh R.; Buckley, John; Jafarzadeh, Hamed; O'Flynn, Brendan

Theoretical models for underwater RFID and the impact of water salinity on the design of wireless systems

Files

netser_v13_n34_2020_1.pdf(987.55 KB)

Published version

Date

2020-12-30

Authors

Peres, Caroline

Pigeon, Melusine

Rather, Nadeem

Gawade, Dinesh R.

Buckley, John

Jafarzadeh, Hamed

O'Flynn, Brendan

Publisher

ThinkMind (TM); IARIA

Abstract

Underwater wireless communications present challenges due to the characteristics of water as a propagation channel medium. Regardless, wireless communications are needed for a range of systems that operate underwater. Commonly used technologies for these use cases (radio-frequency, acoustic and optical communications) are lacking, as they generally suffer from strong attenuation, multipath effects and propagation delays. In this context, we explore the theoretical models for Path Loss of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems underwater in regards to the salinity of the water. We also discuss RFID systems feasibility in such applications as aquaculture and fish stock management. This paper aims to discuss the theoretical transmission models for RFID systems underwater, separating them into near-field systems – which use Magnetic Induction (MI) to communicate – and far-field systems – that transfer data via Radio Frequency (RF). We determine the path loss for each case, the effect of the salinity in the model for the path loss, and present preliminary measurements of magnetic field strength underwater for different salinity values.

Keywords

RFID , Underwater wireless communications , Underwater RFID , Near-field communication , Magnetic induction , Salinity

Citation

Peres, C., Pigeon, M., Rather, N., Gawade, D., Buckley, J., Jafarzadeh, H. and O'Flynn, B. (2020) 'Theoretical Models for Underwater RFID and the Impact of Water Salinity on the Design of Wireless Systems', International Journal on Advances in Networks and Services, 13 (34), pp. 45-59.