Application of Visible Light Communication in an Industrial Environment

Abstract

There is a great deal of research in visible light communications (VLC) for a wide range of applications. However, there is a clear gap in VLC uses for industrial applications. The aim of this paper is to investigate the unique challenges that exist in VLC for the industrial environments. A modified Monte-Carlo method is used to investigate the VLC channel characteristics in warehouses. The paper demonstrates the effects of different ceiling heights and illumination levels on the impulse response, signal to noise ratio (SNR) and bit error rates (BER) of VLC in industrial environments. The required illumination levels are investigated using two different commercial lights fixtures offered by OSRAM and Philips intended for industrial settings with different beam angles and output power. The simulation results show that adequate levels of SNR exist under 5.6, 10, and 15 meter ceiling heights for both scenarios. Additionally, the signal fluctuation due to the receiver’s mobility is also simulated. The results show a 10.4 dB drop when moving along a selected path under a VLC channel.