Radio Frequency Modelling for Future Wireless Sensor Network on Surface of the Moon

Abstract

In order to study lunar regolith properties, wireless sensor network is planned to be deployed on surface of the Moon. This network can be deployed having few wireless sensor nodes capable of measuring soil properties and communicating results, as and when ready. Communication scenario on lunar surface is quite different as compared to that on the Earth, as there is no atmosphere and also there are lots of craters as well as various terrain topologies. Since the deployment of sensors on the Moon is a challenging and difficult task, it is advisable to predict the behaviour of communication channel on lunar surface. However, communication models like Irregular Terrain Model used for terrestrial communication networks are not directly applicable for Unattended Ground Sensor type sensor networks and need modifications according to lunar surface conditions and lunar environment. Efforts have been put to devise a model of radio frequency environment on the Moon using basic equations governing various physical phenomena occurring during radio propagation. The model uses Digital Elevation Model of four sites of the Moon, measured by Terrain Mapping Camera on board Chandrayan-1, a recent Indian mission to the Moon. Results presented in this paper can provide understanding of percentage area coverage for given minimum received signal strength, potential sites for sensor deployment assuring wireless communication, decision whether a given sensor node can work and can provide suggestion for possible path of rover with cluster head to remain in contact with the nodes. Digital Elevation Model based results presented here can provide more insight in to the communication scenario on the Moon and can be very useful to mission planners.