On-body propagation characterization based on FDTD method for 2.4/5.2/5.7 GHz wearable body sensor networks

The on-body path loss and time delay of radio propagation in 2.4/5.2/5.7 GHz wearable body sensor networks (W-BSN) are studied using Remcom XFDTD, a simulation tool based on the finite-difference time-domain method. The simulation is performed in the environment of free space with a simplified three-dimensional human body model. Results show that the path loss at a higher radio frequency is significantly smaller. Given that the transmitter and the receiver are located on the body trunk, the path loss relevant to the proposed minimum equivalent surface distance follows a log-fitting parametric model, and the path loss exponents are 4.7, 4.1 and 4.0 at frequencies of 2.4, 5.2, 5.7 GHz, respectively. On the other hand, the first-arrival delays are less than 2 ns at all receivers, and the maximum time delay spread is about 10 ns. As suggested by the maximum time delay spread, transmission rates of W-BSN must be less than 10⁸ symbol/s to avoid inter-symbol interference from multiple-path delay.