Evaluation of a Multi-Hop Wireless Internet-of-Things Network on Large Ships

Abstract

IoT networks on large ships are known to face challenges, such as severe signal attenuation due to the complex steel bulkhead structure inside the ship. However, reliable connectivity is still required to monitor critical facilities such as engine rooms. This study presents an evaluation study of an IoT network using the IEEE 802.15.4 DSME MAC protocol for reliable data collection within a ship. We investigate the impact of ship-specific characteristics on signal propagation and analyze the feasibility of utilizing the DSME MAC protocol. We also compare the viability of 2.4 GHz and sub-1 GHz communication within a ship. In addition, we strategically select router locations and evaluate the stability and time sensitivity of the constructed network. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed multi-hop wireless network for seamless data transmission onboard ships.