Modelo analítico para avaliação da estabilidade de links em redes industriais sem fio

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have emerged in the industrial environment with the purpose of increasing flexibility and deploying measurement and actuation elements in hard to reach areas. However, due to the peculiarities of wireless communication in the industrial environment, the use of metrics to evaluate the performance of communication links is crucial. An essential property for assessing network behavior is the stability of links. Several studies define metrics for evaluating link stability using different parameters. This thesis presents an analytical model for evaluating link stability based on received signal strength and packet delivery rate. The results obtained through tests performed with different scenarios showed that the analytical model can identify link installability situations when it comes to high variation in received signal strength and low packet delivery. Then, an ISA 100.11a network control system was developed to validate the model proposed in this work. The results obtained with the application of the model in the level control system presented steady state error values below the predetermined maximum limit, while in the control tests that did not consider the link stability factor the error exceeded the limit.