Robot communication link using 802.11n or 900 MHz OFDM

Robots are increasingly being used in settings deemed too hazardous for humans. The communications link used in conjunction with these robots poses unique challenges, particularly in streaming video, which requires high bandwidth, typically found above 900 MHz. In the reported literature, use of UHF below 2 GHz for wireless operation on a robot platform is scarce, especially for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) applications and in addressing the feasibility of transmitting images or video. Furthermore, due to its superior ability to eliminate multipath-induced intersymbol interference (ISI), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is considered to be the best waveform available today for wireless local area network (WLAN) applications. The documented use of OFDM combined with UHF below 2 GHz is also sparse in the current literature. The objective of the research reported here is to demonstrate the performance of OFDM waveforms on a robot platform at two different UHF frequencies (900 MHz and 2.4 GHz).