Wireless is now a strong option for the connection of automation networks in buildings. Benefits of low power multihop wireless mesh networking include:

• Low costs for configuration, installation and maintenance of both communication and power supply networks;

• Sensor and actuator points in environments where wires are not an option;

• Reduction of system downtime caused by faulty wire connectors or connections.

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The first standard in the emerging technology standard of multihop wireless mesh networking is Zigbee/802.15.4. Limitations of this standard include short range, sub-optimal interference protection, vulnerability to multipath inter-symbol interference and limited scalability in shared airspace.

Newtrax Technologies Inc. has developed a new multihop wireless mesh networking protocol based on low data rate Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), which offers a superior range/power ratio, more robust RF links and better scalability than Zigbee/802.15.4 The tradeoff is lower throughput and more latency.

Figure A illustrates a wireless multihop mesh topology with several wireless nodes (WN) and one wireless gateway (WG).

Figure A – Multihop wireless mesh network connected to the Internet

Technical requirements in commercial and industrial buildings are:

• Attenuation and distance between nodes can be significant;

• Multipath non-line-of-sight propagation is the norm;

• System must be scalable up to several hundred nodes per building without being overwhelmed by self-interference;

• Other communication systems such as cordless phones or Wi-Fi computers may operate in the same band;

• Battery operated nodes must last several years without maintenance;

• Security breaches such those found by the international hacker community in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks are unacceptable;

Newtrax Technologies has developed an innovative multihop wireless mesh networking technology particularly suited for the above mentioned technical requirements. Table A summarizes the differentiation with other common technologies.

Table A – Comparison of Newtrax communication technology with other common technologies

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Newtrax Technologies Inc. offers a flexible OEM technology platform to build intelligent wireless sensor and actuator systems:

WN-100 Wireless Node OEM module:

• Enables multihop wireless mesh networking;

• Enables automated control with distributed embedded intelligence;

WG-100 Wireless Gateway OEM software:

• Enables sensor data acquisition in central database on the Internet;

• Enables remote monitoring and control from anywhere in the world, at any time, from any web-enabled device;

The company is currently seeking early adopter customers to participate in beta tests and to co-develop end-user solutions.

About the Author

Alexandre Cervinka is the CEO and Founder of Newtrax Technologies. He is a graduate of McGill University and holds a degree in electrical engineering. The Newtrax team of 7 engineers and scientists conducted extensive field-testing of RF propagation in high-attenuation, high-interference and high-multipath environments, and then built from the ground up a low power multihop wireless mesh network communication protocol tailored for harsh environments.

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